Healthy Homes Assessment Woodridge

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Woodridge rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Woodridge rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Woodridge, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Woodridge rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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 for Woodridge rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Woodridge

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door during 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 houses

Heating Woodridge

Woodridge rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Woodridge

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Woodridge

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

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

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

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

Woodridge Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, 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 usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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 Woodridge

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Woodridge include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Woodridge for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

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