Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada North

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Grenada North 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required 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 under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Grenada North, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Grenada North rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance 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, and Draught Control for Grenada North rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Grenada North Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada North

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Grenada North

Rental properties in Grenada North should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Grenada North

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Grenada North

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Grenada North Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada North

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada North include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada North for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.