Healthy Homes Assessment Grenada Village

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Grenada Village rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check 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 any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Grenada Village rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Grenada Village, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Grenada Village rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in 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 Draught Control within Grenada Village rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Grenada Village Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Grenada Village

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Grenada Village

Rental properties in Grenada Village must have a fixed heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it may require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Grenada Village

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Grenada Village

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task for the house to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Grenada Village Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Grenada Village

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Grenada Village include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Grenada Village for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.