Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Wilton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Wilton, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Wilton rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Wilton rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Wilton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

There is no 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 structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Wilton

Rental properties in Wilton must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This will make your 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 needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wilton

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wilton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard in Wilton include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.