Healthy Homes Assessment Whitby

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified 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. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named 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 information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Whitby, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Whitby rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Whitby rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Whitby Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Whitby

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Whitby

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whitby

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Whitby include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

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

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.