Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days 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 evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Wellington Central rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Wellington Central rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Wellington Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Wellington Central

Wellington Central rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Wellington Central

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

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

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. 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 Wellington Central

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.