Healthy Homes Assessment Hastings

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Hastings rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hastings rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request a home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Hastings, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Hastings rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Hastings rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Hastings Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hastings

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Hastings

Rental properties in Hastings must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the 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 heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Hastings

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Hastings

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Hastings Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hastings

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Hastings include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hastings for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.