Healthy Homes Assessment Waterloo

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Waterloo rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are 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. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Waterloo rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Waterloo, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Waterloo rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Waterloo rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waterloo

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waterloo

Rental properties in Waterloo require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waterloo

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waterloo

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make it easier to the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

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

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

Waterloo Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waterloo

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Waterloo include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waterloo for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.