Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Kingsley Heights rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

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

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. 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.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Kingsley Heights rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Kingsley Heights Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Kingsley Heights

Rental properties in Kingsley Heights should have a permanent heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The 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 to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Kingsley Heights include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.