Healthy Homes Assessment Waiohiki

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 ensure their Waiohiki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waiohiki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine 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 the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Waiohiki, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Waiohiki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew 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 Control in Waiohiki rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Waiohiki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiohiki

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Waiohiki

Waiohiki rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could need an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waiohiki

Every living space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Waiohiki

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waiohiki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your 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 Waiohiki

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Waiohiki include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiohiki for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.