Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Wilton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Wilton, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Wilton rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Wilton rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an 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 healthy homes

Heating Wilton

Rental properties in Wilton need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. 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. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wilton

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Wilton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes much easier for the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Wilton include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• 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? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.