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 in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified for both 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 contract is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Mount Victoria rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping for Mount Victoria rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Victoria

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out into the house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Rental properties in Mount Victoria must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Mount Victoria

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Victoria include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, 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 tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home assessment.