Healthy Homes Assessment Wellington

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Wellington rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Wellington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is 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 Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Wellington, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Wellington rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Wellington rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Wellington

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Wellington

Wellington rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Wellington

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Wellington

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to allow the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, 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 and 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Wellington Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Wellington

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Wellington include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Wellington for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.