Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kingsley Heights rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like 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 remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the 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 to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.