Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Khandallah rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be done and offer a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about 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 receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Khandallah, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Khandallah rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Khandallah rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Khandallah

Khandallah rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the 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 well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Khandallah

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements 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 ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Khandallah

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the home to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up 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 a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.