Healthy Homes Assessment Wilton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Wilton 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Wilton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Wilton, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Wilton rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Wilton rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Wilton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wilton

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check every window and door in your 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 homes

Heating Wilton

Wilton rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wilton

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Wilton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the house to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Wilton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wilton

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wilton include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wilton for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting a home review 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 well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.