Healthy Homes Assessment Kelson

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Kelson rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kelson rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Kelson, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Kelson rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower 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, as well as Draught-stopping for Kelson rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Kelson Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kelson

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

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Kelson

Kelson rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest 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 well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as the heat pump, it could require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kelson

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kelson

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kelson Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kelson

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kelson include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kelson for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.