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 now have to 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Waipatu, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Waipatu rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipatu

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waipatu

Rental properties in Waipatu should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waipatu

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Waipatu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waipatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps 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 Waipatu

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Waipatu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipatu for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.