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 of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Kingsley-Chatham rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes 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 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

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

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Kingsley-Chatham, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Kingsley-Chatham rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Kingsley-Chatham rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley-Chatham

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

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door 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 crucial for healthy houses

Heating Kingsley-Chatham

Rental properties in Kingsley-Chatham should have a permanent heating source which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingsley-Chatham

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Kingsley-Chatham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Kingsley-Chatham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingsley-Chatham

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley-Chatham include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley-Chatham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.