Healthy Homes Assessment Waiwhetu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Waiwhetu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to assess 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Waiwhetu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Waiwhetu, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Waiwhetu rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Waiwhetu rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Waiwhetu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiwhetu

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

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 that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Waiwhetu

Waiwhetu rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waiwhetu

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need 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.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Waiwhetu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making it easier to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waiwhetu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waiwhetu

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Waiwhetu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiwhetu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.