Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Haywards 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 within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Haywards, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Haywards rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Haywards rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Haywards

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside and remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Haywards

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier for the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Haywards include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.