Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley Heights

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Kingsley Heights rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Kingsley Heights, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the standard of Kingsley Heights rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control on Kingsley Heights rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley Heights

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kingsley Heights

Kingsley Heights rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kingsley Heights

Each living space within a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Kingsley Heights

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to the house to hold warmth.

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

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

• 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingsley Heights Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. 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

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley Heights for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.