Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if 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 one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure as the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the 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 heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might just need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and 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 all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task for the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• 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

Check out the complete details of 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 it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full 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 by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.