Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Khandallah rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it 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 up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Khandallah rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on Khandallah rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Khandallah

Khandallah rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it could need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Khandallah

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the house to hold warmth.

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

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water 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 be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

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 Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.