Healthy Homes Assessment Kingston

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Kingston rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill 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 healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Kingston rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Kingston, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Kingston rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

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

Get started now and contact us about having 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 draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Kingston

Rental properties in Kingston must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the 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 wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like a heat pump, then it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Kingston

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Kingston

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the household to hold the 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 resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Kingston Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Kingston

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Kingston include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Kingston for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.