Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Wilton 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 must be fully compliant by 1 July 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 whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Wilton, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Wilton rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Wilton rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Wilton

Rental properties in Wilton should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wilton

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Wilton

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

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

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Wilton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home assessment.