Healthy Homes Assessment Kenepuru

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Kenepuru rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely 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 check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both 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 new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive 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 have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Kenepuru, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Kenepuru rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Kenepuru rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Kenepuru Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kenepuru

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kenepuru

Kenepuru rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kenepuru

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kenepuru

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kenepuru Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kenepuru

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Kenepuru include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kenepuru for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.