Healthy Homes Assessment Woodridge

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure 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 completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Woodridge, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Woodridge rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Woodridge rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Woodridge Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woodridge

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

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Woodridge

Rental properties in Woodridge should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woodridge

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding how dried air can be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Woodridge

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Woodridge Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woodridge

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woodridge for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.