Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada North

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 must ensure their Grenada North rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess both 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Grenada North, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Grenada North rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Grenada North rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Grenada North Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada North

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Grenada North

Rental properties in Grenada North need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Grenada North

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Grenada North

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Grenada North Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada North include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada North for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, 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 the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.