Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine 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 does not supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Mount Cook rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Mount Cook rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A humid home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within the house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to the home to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 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

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check during a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.