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 must ensure that their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must 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 will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified for 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Whitby, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Whitby rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Whitby rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Whitby Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from your house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Whitby

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Whitby

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whitby

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Whitby include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.