Healthy Homes Assessment Woolwich

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 Woolwich rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Woolwich rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Woolwich rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Woolwich, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Woolwich rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Woolwich rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woolwich

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Woolwich

Rental properties in Woolwich require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woolwich

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Woolwich

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Woolwich Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woolwich

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Woolwich include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woolwich for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.