Healthy Homes Assessment Wairoa

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 are now required to ensure their Wairoa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with 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 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wairoa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Wairoa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a 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 property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Wairoa, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Wairoa rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Wairoa rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Wairoa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wairoa

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Wairoa

Wairoa rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it may require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wairoa

Each living space within a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. The 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 home is an ideal house

Insulation Wairoa

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier to the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Wairoa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Wairoa

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wairoa for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.