Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Mount Victoria rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be done and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a home inspection 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?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Mount Victoria rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Mount Victoria rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Victoria

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Rental properties in Mount Victoria must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet 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 need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Mount Victoria

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes more easy for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Victoria include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.