Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Kingston, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Kingston rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Kingston rental properties.

Start now and call about the Kingston Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have a thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingston

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Kingston

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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 Kingston

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standard in Kingston include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.