Healthy Homes Assessment Kelburn

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 Kelburn 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Kelburn, 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 the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Kelburn rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Kelburn rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Kelburn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelburn

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Kelburn

Kelburn rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kelburn

Every living space in a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Kelburn

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kelburn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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 Kelburn

Rental property areas affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Kelburn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelburn for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.