Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Trentham 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 can assess your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description 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 the property in New Zealand and Trentham, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Trentham rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Trentham rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Trentham

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Trentham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Trentham

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Trentham include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.