Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that 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 new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Mount Victoria rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in 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 are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Mount Victoria rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it may require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Victoria

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Victoria include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.