Healthy Homes Assessment Whakatu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Whakatu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. 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 comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Whakatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Whakatu, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Whakatu rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Whakatu rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Whakatu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whakatu

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Whakatu

Whakatu rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended 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) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new 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 offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Whakatu

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Whakatu

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Whakatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whakatu

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Whakatu include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whakatu for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.