Healthy Homes Assessment Woolwich

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Woolwich rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant 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 and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes 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 violation of 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 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Woolwich rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for 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 name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Woolwich, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Woolwich rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Woolwich rental properties.

Start now and call about the Woolwich Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woolwich

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Woolwich

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

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Woolwich

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Woolwich

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Woolwich Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Woolwich

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Woolwich include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woolwich for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.