Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Khandallah 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Khandallah rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about the Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Khandallah

Rental properties in Khandallah must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may 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 like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space in a rental home must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another 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 verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Khandallah

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.