Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified for both 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Mount Cook rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Start now and call about getting a Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting 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 can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your house require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it might need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Mount Cook

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to allow the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water 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 cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

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 Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.