Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kingston, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Kingston rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Kingston

Kingston rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingston

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air will be more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space 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 home is an ideal house

Insulation Kingston

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task for the household to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well 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 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingston include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.