Healthy Homes Assessment Kingsley-Chatham

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of 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 the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 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 is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Kingsley-Chatham rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Kingsley-Chatham, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Kingsley-Chatham rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Kingsley-Chatham rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Kingsley-Chatham Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingsley-Chatham

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are 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 gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kingsley-Chatham

Kingsley-Chatham rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Kingsley-Chatham

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air will be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Kingsley-Chatham

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingsley-Chatham Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the 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 by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingsley-Chatham include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingsley-Chatham for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.