Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

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? The 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 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information needed to complete 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 landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Mount Victoria rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping on 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 can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the building as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Mount Victoria rental properties should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it could require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Mount Victoria

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to allow the home to retain the heat.

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 more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.