Healthy Homes Assessment Whakatu

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Whakatu rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Whakatu rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Whakatu, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Whakatu rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of 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, as well Draught Control for Whakatu rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Whakatu Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Draught Stopping Whakatu

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Whakatu

Rental properties in Whakatu should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 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 as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate 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 acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Whakatu

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

Insulation Whakatu

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Whakatu Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Rental Property Home Assessments Whakatu

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

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

Home Assessments Whakatu for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.