Healthy Homes Assessment Waipatu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Waipatu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under 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 $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waipatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Waipatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own 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 meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Waipatu, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Waipatu rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Waipatu rental properties.

Start now and call about the Waipatu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipatu

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waipatu

Rental properties in Waipatu must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet 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 needs.

Ventilation Waipatu

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Waipatu

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand 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 – the remainder area 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waipatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipatu

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Waipatu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipatu for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.