Healthy Homes Assessment Kilbirnie

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Kilbirnie rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Kilbirnie, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Kilbirnie rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Kilbirnie rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Kilbirnie Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Draught Stopping Kilbirnie

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Heating Kilbirnie

Kilbirnie rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the 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 needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kilbirnie

Every living space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

Insulation Kilbirnie

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge 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 rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kilbirnie Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface 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 making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Rental Property Home Assessments Kilbirnie

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kilbirnie include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Home Assessments Kilbirnie for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.