Healthy Homes Assessment Mornington

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Mornington rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals 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 will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified 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 Mornington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Mornington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mornington, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Mornington rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control on Mornington rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mornington

Draughts may lead to less temperature in houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Mornington

Mornington rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mornington

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Mornington

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make it easier to the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mornington Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of 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 is about damp and water, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mornington

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Mornington include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mornington for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? 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 falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.