Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be done and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection 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 so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Wadestown, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Wadestown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wadestown

Rental properties in Wadestown must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wadestown

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Wadestown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to allow the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

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

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Wadestown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.