Healthy Homes Assessment Waipatu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Waipatu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

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

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Waipatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Waipatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Waipatu, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Waipatu rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning 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 as Draught stopping within Waipatu rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Waipatu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipatu

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Waipatu

Waipatu rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, 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 well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might just need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waipatu

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Waipatu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Waipatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipatu

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Waipatu include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipatu for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.