Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified for 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, once 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, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended 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) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the 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 to The Healthy Homes Standards 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 be able to examine when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.