Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

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 now have to 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 are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improve the quality of Lower Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Lower Hutt rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 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 source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile 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 pump, then it must include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to 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 property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Lower Hutt

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. 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 Lower Hutt

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

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