Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

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? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

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

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Khandallah rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Khandallah rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Khandallah

Rental properties in Khandallah should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, 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 requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Khandallah

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Khandallah

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task for the home 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 gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure 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 is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

The areas of rental property that are affected with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Khandallah include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.