Healthy Homes Assessment Wallaceville

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 are now required to make sure their Wallaceville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6792

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Wallaceville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Wallaceville, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Wallaceville rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Wallaceville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Wallaceville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wallaceville

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Wallaceville

Wallaceville rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might just require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Wallaceville

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Wallaceville

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make it easier for the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• 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 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wallaceville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

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

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wallaceville

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wallaceville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wallaceville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.