Healthy Homes Assessment Kelburn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Kelburn 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Kelburn, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kelburn rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Kelburn rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Kelburn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelburn

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Kelburn

Rental properties in Kelburn must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kelburn

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kelburn

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kelburn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside it is 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 comes to moisture and damp it is typically what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kelburn

The areas of rental property that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Kelburn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelburn for Rental Properties

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

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.