Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Lower Hutt rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed 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 can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Lower Hutt 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 or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Lower Hutt rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Lower Hutt

Rental properties in Lower Hutt need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may require an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Each living space within a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Lower Hutt

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lower Hutt

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.