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 effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with 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 breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, 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 well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.