Healthy Homes Assessment Newtown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Newtown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant 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 evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Newtown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a 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 expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Newtown, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Newtown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Newtown rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Newtown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newtown

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within 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 check all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Newtown

Newtown rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Newtown

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow 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 thus are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Newtown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet 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 R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

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

Newtown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newtown

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Newtown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newtown for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.