Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely 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 tenancy is signed for a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Waterloo rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Waterloo rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Waterloo

Rental properties in Waterloo must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waterloo

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waterloo

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Waterloo include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• 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 being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.