Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified for 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 new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Kingston, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Kingston rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Kingston rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingston

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air will be less difficult to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Kingston

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater 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 rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

Property rental areas that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Kingston include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for 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:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.