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 must make sure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 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 check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key 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 help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Mount Cook rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook should have a permanent heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC 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 well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dried air can be less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

See the full details of this 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 with The Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.