Healthy Homes Assessment Wadestown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Wadestown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with 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 relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wadestown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Wadestown, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Wadestown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Wadestown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wadestown

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that 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 from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wadestown

Rental properties in Wadestown should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wadestown

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Wadestown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wadestown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wadestown

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Wadestown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wadestown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check during an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.