Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Grenada Village 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 completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Grenada Village rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Grenada Village rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Grenada Village

Grenada Village rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, 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 might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Grenada Village

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand 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 area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.