Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of 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 rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be completed and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified for both 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 items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Cook

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task to the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• 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 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.