Healthy Homes Assessment Whitby

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea 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 the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by 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 standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Whitby rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Whitby, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Whitby rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whitby

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Whitby

Whitby rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Whitby

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Whitby

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 all of the 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 moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

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

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whitby

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with 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 many things you should look for in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.