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 July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Wilton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional 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 person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Wilton, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Wilton rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Wilton rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Wilton

Rental properties in Wilton require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wilton

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Wilton

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to allow the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Wilton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.