Healthy Homes Assessment Whitby

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, 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

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 finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Whitby, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Whitby rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of 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 as Draught Stopping within Whitby rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Whitby Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Whitby

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Whitby

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with 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 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 rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, 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 a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.