Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada North

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Grenada North rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Grenada North rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when 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.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Grenada North, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Grenada North rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Grenada North rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada North

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Grenada North

Grenada North rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Grenada North

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Grenada North

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make more easy for the home to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Grenada North Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home 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 to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada North

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada North include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada North for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.