Healthy Homes Assessment Woolwich

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Woolwich rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Woolwich rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Woolwich rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Woolwich, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Woolwich rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Woolwich rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Woolwich Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woolwich

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the building when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Woolwich

Woolwich rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woolwich

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Woolwich

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task for the household to retain the heat.

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

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Woolwich Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woolwich

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Woolwich include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woolwich for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.