Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Khandallah rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 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 check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully qualified to assess each of 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with 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 Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Khandallah rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Khandallah rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Khandallah

Khandallah rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Khandallah

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation 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 warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Khandallah

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 Khandallah

Rental property areas affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check in the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.