Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know 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 any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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 tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Lower Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Lower Hutt rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Lower Hutt

Rental properties in Lower Hutt require a reliable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Lower Hutt

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of 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 with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Lower Hutt include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, 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 an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.