Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control on Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights need to have a stable heating source which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the 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

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Kingsley Heights include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.