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 of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Mount Cook rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house heats and cools, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might require an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient 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 openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through The Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.