Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Khandallah rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to assess 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 or renewed tenancy is signed for a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details 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 supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so 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 when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Khandallah rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance 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 Draught Stopping in Khandallah rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Khandallah

Khandallah rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Khandallah

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make much easier for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually 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 prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to schedule your rental property house assessment.