Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely qualified 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of 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 that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley Heights

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

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

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.