Healthy Homes Assessment Khandallah

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Khandallah 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 completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Khandallah rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Khandallah, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Khandallah rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Khandallah rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Khandallah Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Khandallah

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Khandallah

Rental properties in Khandallah need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Khandallah

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Khandallah

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Khandallah Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Khandallah

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Khandallah include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Khandallah for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.