Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Waterloo, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Waterloo rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Waterloo rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Waterloo

Rental properties in Waterloo require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waterloo

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Waterloo

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Waterloo include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.