Healthy Homes Assessment Woodridge

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Woodridge rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified to evaluate 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Woodridge, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the quality of Woodridge rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Woodridge rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Woodridge Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woodridge

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Woodridge

Rental properties in Woodridge must have a fixed heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woodridge

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Woodridge

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Woodridge Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woodridge

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Woodridge include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woodridge for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.