Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty 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 property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Lower Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Lower Hutt rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Lower Hutt

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make it easier for the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lower Hutt

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.