Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control for Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 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 well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dry air is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.