Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified for 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties 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 as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

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

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Kingsley Heights

Property rental areas that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.