Healthy Homes Assessment Lower 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 now have to ensure that their Lower Hutt 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 completely compliant 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’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done and offer the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person 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 accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Lower Hutt rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Lower Hutt rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Lower Hutt

Rental properties in Lower Hutt need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Lower Hutt

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the 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 area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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 standard.

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lower Hutt

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standards in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over during the house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.