Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done, and offer a 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 violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Wellington Central rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wellington Central

Rental properties in Wellington Central need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Wellington Central

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington Central

Property rental areas that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

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

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.