Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Kingston, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Kingston rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Kingston rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Kingston

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors 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 to ensure healthy homes

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Kingston

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air is much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Kingston

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task for the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists 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 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kingston include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties home evaluation.