Healthy Homes Assessment Kelburn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Kelburn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 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 determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Kelburn, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Kelburn rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Kelburn rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Kelburn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelburn

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Kelburn

Rental properties in Kelburn must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will 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 the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it could require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kelburn

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that 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 quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Kelburn

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kelburn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kelburn

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kelburn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelburn for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home assessment.