Healthy Homes Assessment Waipukurau

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Waipukurau rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Waipukurau rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Waipukurau rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Waipukurau, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Waipukurau rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Waipukurau rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Waipukurau Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipukurau

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out from your house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waipukurau

Rental properties in Waipukurau need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, 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 an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waipukurau

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Waipukurau

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waipukurau Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipukurau

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Waipukurau include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipukurau for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.