Healthy Homes Assessment Kenepuru

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Kenepuru rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Kenepuru rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Kenepuru, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Kenepuru rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Kenepuru rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Kenepuru Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kenepuru

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Kenepuru

Rental properties in Kenepuru need to have a stable heating source that can warm 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 minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kenepuru

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Kenepuru

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier for the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kenepuru Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kenepuru

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kenepuru include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kenepuru for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in an home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.