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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified for both 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Waterloo rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Waterloo Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waterloo

Waterloo rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waterloo

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Waterloo

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to allow the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.