Healthy Homes Assessment Kenepuru

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Kenepuru rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to evaluate 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Kenepuru, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Kenepuru rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Kenepuru rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Kenepuru Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kenepuru

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kenepuru

Rental properties in Kenepuru must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to be able 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 and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kenepuru

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kenepuru

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task for the household to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Kenepuru Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kenepuru

The areas of rental property that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kenepuru include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kenepuru for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties house evaluation.