Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure 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 fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified for 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Grenada Village rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Grenada Village rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A cold house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Grenada Village

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

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Grenada Village

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier to allow the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet 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 greater the R-value, the higher the standard of 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.