Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Wilton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Wilton, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Wilton rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured 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 and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Wilton rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Wilton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out from your home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Wilton

Wilton rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wilton

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Wilton

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier for the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Wilton

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Wilton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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