Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, 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 necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards 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 healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords 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 the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Kingston, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Kingston rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Kingston rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingston

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kingston

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to the house to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.