Healthy Homes Assessment Kelson

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Kelson rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects 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 assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be done and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kelson rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kelson rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kelson, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Kelson rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Kelson rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Kelson Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelson

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Kelson

Kelson rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kelson

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Kelson

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make much easier for the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kelson Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kelson

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Kelson include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelson for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

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

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.