Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Mount Victoria rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely 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’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified for 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 for a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Mount Victoria rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Mount Victoria rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Mount Victoria Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Victoria

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, 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 into the home require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Rental properties in Mount Victoria need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Victoria

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the 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 Standards in Mount Victoria include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.