Healthy Homes Assessment Kenepuru

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 Kenepuru rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

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

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Kenepuru, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Kenepuru rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Kenepuru rental properties.

Start now and call about the Kenepuru Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kenepuru

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large 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 hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Kenepuru

Rental properties in Kenepuru should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a 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 might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kenepuru

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dried air can be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kenepuru

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kenepuru Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into 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 floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kenepuru

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Kenepuru include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kenepuru for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.