Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st 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 check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Grenada Village rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Grenada Village rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows during our 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 healthy houses

Heating Grenada Village

Grenada Village rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dried air can be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space 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 home is an ideal house

Insulation Grenada Village

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task for the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the 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 Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Grenada Village include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.