Healthy Homes Assessment Hastings Central

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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Hastings Central rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be done and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 856 525

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Hastings Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Hastings Central rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised 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 are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so 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 up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Hastings Central, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Hastings Central rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Hastings Central rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Hastings Central Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Hastings Central

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from the home need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Hastings Central

Hastings Central rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, 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 well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Hastings Central

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Hastings Central

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task to the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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

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

Hastings Central Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Hastings Central

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Hastings Central include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Hastings Central for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.