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 make sure their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in 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. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the details required 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 who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet all 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 existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Wellington Central rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control on Wellington Central rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check the 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.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Wellington Central

Rental properties in Wellington Central need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if 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 in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Wellington Central

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the 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

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington Central

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington Central include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including 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 tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.