Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure 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 rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person 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 requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Waterloo, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Waterloo rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Waterloo

Rental properties in Waterloo should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waterloo

Every living space in a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waterloo

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps to prevent 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

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.