Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Mount Victoria rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of 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, and Draught-stopping within Mount Victoria rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Mount Victoria Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Victoria

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable 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 and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Rental properties in Mount Victoria 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 minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an 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 that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Victoria

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with 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 added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making it easier to the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the 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, underfloor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.