Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We can evaluate your rental property 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 the tasks required. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the required 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 an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a 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

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Grenada Village rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Grenada Village rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Grenada Village

Grenada Village rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.