Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Wellington Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both 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 new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large 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 home assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Wellington Central rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about 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 lower temperatures in houses. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Wellington Central

Wellington Central rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable 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 an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wellington Central

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to allow the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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 quality.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington Central

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

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

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house assessment.