Healthy Homes Assessment Trentham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6792

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 Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Trentham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or 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 pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Trentham, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Trentham rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of 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, and Draught Stopping for Trentham rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Trentham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Trentham

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A damp home 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, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Trentham

Rental properties in Trentham must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will 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 acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Trentham

Each liveable space in a rental house must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

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

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Trentham

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task to the home to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Trentham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about 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 with The Healthy Homes Standards in Trentham include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Trentham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.