Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Wellington, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Wellington rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Wellington rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Wellington Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Wellington

Rental properties in Wellington should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC 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 and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the main living room already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wellington

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Wellington

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy for the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wellington Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps 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 Wellington

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in an home evaluation 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 covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.