Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure 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 compliant by 1 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 check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing 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 living because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Mount Cook rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are 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 or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove 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 be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Mount Cook

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making much easier for the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.