Healthy Homes Assessment Waipukurau

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? Landlords now have to ensure their Waipukurau rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waipukurau rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Waipukurau, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Waipukurau rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Waipukurau rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipukurau

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Waipukurau

Waipukurau rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waipukurau

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable 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 home

Insulation Waipukurau

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Waipukurau Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipukurau

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Waipukurau include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipukurau for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.