Healthy Homes Assessment Kilbirnie

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Kilbirnie rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of 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 brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Kilbirnie rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, 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 building they live in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Kilbirnie, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Kilbirnie rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Kilbirnie rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Kilbirnie Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kilbirnie

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Kilbirnie

Rental properties in Kilbirnie require a reliable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, 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 check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kilbirnie

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Kilbirnie

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new 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 property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Kilbirnie Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water 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 structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the 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 Kilbirnie

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standards in Kilbirnie include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kilbirnie for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.