Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Lower Hutt 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 must 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 will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Lower Hutt rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Lower Hutt rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. 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 in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Lower Hutt

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 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 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lower Hutt

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.