Healthy Homes Assessment Twyford

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Twyford rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be done and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Twyford rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Twyford rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request a house assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Twyford, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Twyford rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Twyford rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Twyford Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Twyford

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Twyford

Twyford rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Twyford

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

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

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Twyford

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Twyford Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Twyford

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Twyford include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Twyford for Rental Properties

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

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.