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? Landlords are now required to make sure their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to assess each of 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house 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 can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Whitby, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Whitby rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Whitby rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Whitby Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 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 wellbeing.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Whitby

Every living space of a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

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

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Whitby

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier to the household to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement 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 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about 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 by The Healthy Homes Standard in Whitby include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have 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 with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.