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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Kingston, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kingston rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance 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 Control within Kingston rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Kingston Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingston

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kingston

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy to the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists 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 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 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

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Kingston include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.