Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Khandallah rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with 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 in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate 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 one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Khandallah rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Khandallah rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Khandallah

Rental properties in Khandallah should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Khandallah

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of 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 through the Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.