Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely 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 contract is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Wellington Central rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Wellington Central rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Wellington Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wellington Central

Rental properties in Wellington Central need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Wellington Central

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington Central

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.