Healthy Homes Assessment Hastings

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Hastings rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check 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 of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

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

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Hastings rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, 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 are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information 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 up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Hastings, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Hastings rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Hastings rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Hastings Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hastings

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Hastings

Hastings rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing 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 like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hastings

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Hastings

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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

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

Hastings Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, 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 an essential part of keeping your property dry.

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

A ground moisture barrier is typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the 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 Hastings

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Hastings include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hastings for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.