Healthy Homes Assessment Kilbirnie

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Kilbirnie rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 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. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess each of 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details 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 required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Kilbirnie, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Kilbirnie rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Kilbirnie rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Kilbirnie Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kilbirnie

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Kilbirnie

Rental properties in Kilbirnie must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kilbirnie

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kilbirnie

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kilbirnie Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. 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 is about damp and water, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kilbirnie

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Kilbirnie include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kilbirnie for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.