Healthy Homes Assessment Woodridge

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Woodridge 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 fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed 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 up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Woodridge, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Woodridge rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Woodridge rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Woodridge Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woodridge

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Woodridge

Woodridge rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed 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 aren’t considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woodridge

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Woodridge

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the house to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Woodridge 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 ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woodridge

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standards in Woodridge include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woodridge for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.