Healthy Homes Assessment Kenepuru

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 are now required to make sure that their Kenepuru rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed 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 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 requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Kenepuru, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Kenepuru rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Kenepuru rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Kenepuru Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kenepuru

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to block 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 building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test every window and door as part of 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 for healthy homes

Heating Kenepuru

Rental properties in Kenepuru must have a fixed heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the 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 wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire 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 provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kenepuru

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kenepuru

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kenepuru Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Kenepuru include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kenepuru for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.