Healthy Homes Assessment Whitby

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 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 rental properties are required to 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Whitby, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Whitby rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Whitby rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Whitby Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into the home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Whitby

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space 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 cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Whitby

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into 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 Whitby

The areas of rental property that are affected with Health Homes Standard. 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 concerns to check during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.