Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Wellington Central 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to evaluate 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 for a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will 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 who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Wellington Central rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Wellington Central rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Wellington Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wellington Central

Wellington Central rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 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 for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wellington Central

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement 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 part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington Central

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.