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 July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to evaluate 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 on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so 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, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Grenada Village rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about the Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Grenada Village

Grenada Village rental properties must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not 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 needs to include a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

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

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient 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 a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.