Healthy Homes Assessment Haywards

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 their Haywards rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Haywards rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an home assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Haywards, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Haywards rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Haywards rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Haywards

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Haywards

Rental properties in Haywards require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Haywards

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Haywards

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Haywards Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Haywards

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Haywards include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Haywards for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.