Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required 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 rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate 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 also important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for 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 suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the household to hold heat.

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

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

• 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, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove 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 doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.