Healthy Homes Assessment Waipukurau

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Waipukurau rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Waipukurau rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Waipukurau rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Waipukurau, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Waipukurau rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Waipukurau rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Waipukurau Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waipukurau

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Waipukurau

Rental properties in Waipukurau should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Waipukurau

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

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Waipukurau

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waipukurau Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waipukurau

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Waipukurau include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waipukurau for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.