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 July 2021? 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 conforming by the 1st 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 check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives 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 disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs 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 for Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Start now and call about the Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable 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 house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps 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

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Kingsley Heights include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property house evaluation.