Healthy Homes Assessment Kilbirnie

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Kilbirnie rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified to evaluate 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Kilbirnie, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Kilbirnie rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance 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 within Kilbirnie rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kilbirnie

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Kilbirnie

Kilbirnie rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most 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 well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kilbirnie

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kilbirnie

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kilbirnie Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kilbirnie

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Kilbirnie include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kilbirnie for Rental Properties

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

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties house assessment.