Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Kingston 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of 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 Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Kingston, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Kingston rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping in Kingston rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting 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 households. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingston

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kingston

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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 Kingston

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Kingston include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.