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 ensure that 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate both 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

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

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW 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 the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could require an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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

Find out all the details about this 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 inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.