Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Khandallah 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting 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 up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Khandallah rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Khandallah rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes 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, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Khandallah

Khandallah rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how 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. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Khandallah

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the house to keep the heat.

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

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.