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 effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Mount Victoria rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 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 and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of 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

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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

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

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Mount Victoria rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Mount Victoria rental properties.

Start now and call about having 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 houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Mount Victoria

Rental properties in Mount Victoria require a reliable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on 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) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Every living space of the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how dried air can be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Victoria

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Victoria include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.