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 of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Lower Hutt rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. needs to be done and provide a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

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

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

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Lower Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Lower Hutt rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Lower Hutt

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.