Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington Central

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that 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 subjects covered in 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 standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wellington Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Wellington Central, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Wellington Central rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington Central

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Wellington Central

Rental properties in Wellington Central must have a fixed source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (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 your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces 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 require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Wellington Central

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Wellington Central

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wellington Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the 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 that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington Central for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.