Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request an house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Mount Cook rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large 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 from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes more easy for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.