Healthy Homes Assessment Wairoa

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Wairoa 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 will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Wairoa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Wairoa, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Wairoa rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Wairoa rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Wairoa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wairoa

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Wairoa

Rental properties in Wairoa should have a permanent heating source which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Wairoa

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Wairoa

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wairoa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wairoa

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Wairoa include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wairoa for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.