Healthy Homes Assessment Waitangirua

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Waitangirua rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6793

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Waitangirua rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Waitangirua, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Waitangirua rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Waitangirua rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Waitangirua Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waitangirua

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waitangirua

Waitangirua rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Waitangirua

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. 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 needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Waitangirua

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to 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 subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to allow the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for 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 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waitangirua Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waitangirua

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Waitangirua include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waitangirua for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for in a house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.