Healthy Homes Assessment Wairoa

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 are now required to make sure their Wairoa rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation 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 related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully certified for each of 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Wairoa rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet 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 the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Wairoa, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Wairoa rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Wairoa rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Wairoa Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wairoa

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test 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 crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Wairoa

Wairoa rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Wairoa

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Wairoa

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to allow the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wairoa Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent 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 Wairoa

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Wairoa include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wairoa for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.