Healthy Homes Assessment Hutt Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Hutt Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hutt Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation 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 is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Hutt Central, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Hutt Central rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Hutt Central rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Hutt Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hutt Central

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Hutt Central

Hutt Central rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, 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 wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hutt Central

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Hutt Central

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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

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

Hutt Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hutt Central

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hutt Central for Rental Properties

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

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.