Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine 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 property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Newtown, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Newtown rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Newtown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Newtown

Newtown rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, 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 and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices 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 might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Newtown

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Newtown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor 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 also makes much easier to the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newtown

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.