Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that 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 assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Wellington Central rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about 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 houses. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Wellington Central

Rental properties in Wellington Central require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even during 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 and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wellington Central

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements 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 is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. 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 with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.