Healthy Homes Assessment Upper Hutt

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? Landlords must ensure their Upper Hutt rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must 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 will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under 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 $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, 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 infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Upper Hutt, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Upper Hutt rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Upper Hutt rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Upper Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Upper Hutt

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Upper Hutt

Upper Hutt rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Upper Hutt

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Upper Hutt

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Upper Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Upper Hutt

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Upper Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Upper Hutt for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.