Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements 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 breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Grenada Village rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Grenada Village rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require to be sealed. 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 that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Grenada Village

Rental properties in Grenada Village need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like 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 like a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

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

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.