Healthy Homes Assessment Upper Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Upper Hutt 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 certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully qualified to assess each of 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 or renewed tenancy is signed for an Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Upper Hutt, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Upper Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Upper Hutt rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Upper Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Upper Hutt

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Upper Hutt

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

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need a top up to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Upper Hutt

Every living space of a rental house must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that dried air can be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Upper Hutt

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task for the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Upper Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Upper Hutt

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Upper Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.