Healthy Homes Assessment Hastings

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Hastings rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Hastings rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Hastings rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Hastings, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Hastings rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Hastings rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hastings

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Hastings

Rental properties in Hastings need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hastings

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Hastings

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Hastings Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hastings

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hastings for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.