Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Wilton 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 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 can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Wilton, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Wilton rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Wilton rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Wilton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wilton

Rental properties in Wilton must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wilton

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Wilton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Wilton include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.