Healthy Homes Assessment Kelburn

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 ensure their Kelburn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified for each of 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kelburn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Kelburn, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Kelburn rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on 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 can lead to less temperature in households. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Kelburn

Rental properties in Kelburn need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it may require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kelburn

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kelburn

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kelburn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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

Property rental areas that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Kelburn include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelburn for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.