Healthy Homes Assessment Whakatu

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Whakatu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 232 113

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Whakatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Whakatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting 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 accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Whakatu, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Whakatu rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about the Whakatu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Whakatu

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Whakatu

Rental properties in Whakatu need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Whakatu

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Whakatu

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Whakatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Whakatu

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Whakatu include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Whakatu for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.