Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation 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 healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A humid house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to at least 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 well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

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