Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to assess each of 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Grenada Village rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific 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 right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Grenada Village

Grenada Village rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Grenada Village

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the 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

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.