Healthy Homes Assessment Waiohiki

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? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Waiohiki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to assess 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waiohiki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waiohiki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home 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 rent in New Zealand and Waiohiki, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the quality of Waiohiki rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Waiohiki rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiohiki

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Waiohiki

Rental properties in Waiohiki should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small 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 pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waiohiki

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Waiohiki

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making much easier for the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Waiohiki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waiohiki

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Waiohiki include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiohiki for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.