Healthy Homes Assessment Kelson

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 must make sure that their Kelson rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes 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 violation 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 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kelson rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kelson rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Kelson, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Kelson rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Kelson rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Kelson Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelson

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. 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 in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Kelson

Kelson rental properties require a reliable source of heat which can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kelson

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kelson

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Kelson Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kelson

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kelson include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelson for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties house assessment.