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 of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Whitby rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Whitby, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Whitby rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Whitby rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Whitby

Rental properties in Whitby require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Whitby

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Whitby

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Whitby Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Whitby include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whitby for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.