Healthy Homes Assessment Wainuiomata

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Wainuiomata 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Wainuiomata rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Wainuiomata, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Wainuiomata rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Wainuiomata rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wainuiomata

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Wainuiomata

Rental properties in Wainuiomata should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wainuiomata

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Wainuiomata

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher 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 North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Wainuiomata Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wainuiomata

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Wainuiomata include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wainuiomata for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.