Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada North

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Grenada North rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have 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 adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request an house assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Grenada North, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Grenada North rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, 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, as well as Draught stopping on Grenada North rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Grenada North Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada North

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Grenada North

Grenada North rental properties require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada North

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Grenada North

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well 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 part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Grenada North Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada North

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada North include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada North for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.