Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 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 and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to evaluate both 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, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the home to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements 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 is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.