Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure that 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 fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew 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 and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for 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 increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the home heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties require a reliable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need 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 to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task for the home to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of 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; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.