Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to allow the household to hold heat.

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

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

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

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.