Healthy Homes Assessment Whitby

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed, and offer a 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 violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may 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 information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Whitby, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Whitby rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

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

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Whitby

Rental properties in Whitby should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it may require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Whitby

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Whitby

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whitby

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Whitby include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.