Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley-Chatham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Kingsley-Chatham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 365 444

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Kingsley-Chatham, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Kingsley-Chatham rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Kingsley-Chatham rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Kingsley-Chatham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley-Chatham

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kingsley-Chatham

Kingsley-Chatham rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley-Chatham

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air will be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley-Chatham

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingsley-Chatham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

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

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley-Chatham

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley-Chatham for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.