Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

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? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which 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 current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Wellington Central rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over 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 as Draught Stopping for Wellington Central rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Wellington Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Wellington Central

Wellington Central rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

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

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wellington Central

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

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

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

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. 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 Wellington Central

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.