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 in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that 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 will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties 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

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

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Wellington Central rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Wellington Central rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wellington Central

Wellington Central rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, but remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wellington Central

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Wellington Central

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum 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?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.