Healthy Homes Assessment Waipawa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Waipawa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Waipawa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Waipawa, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Waipawa rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over 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 Draught-stopping in Waipawa rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Waipawa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipawa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Waipawa

Waipawa rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waipawa

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be much 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 rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a 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 of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waipawa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Waipawa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipawa

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Waipawa include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipawa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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