Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas 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 requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed 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.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Grenada Village rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Grenada Village rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Grenada Village

Rental properties in Grenada Village must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient 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 to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

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

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

The areas of rental property that are affected with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

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