Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Newtown, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Newtown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Newtown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Newtown

Newtown rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat 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 temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Newtown

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

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Newtown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newtown

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Newtown include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.