Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Mount Cook 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Mount Cook rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

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 that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 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 outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to top up by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor 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

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

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists 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 Mount Cook

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.