Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must 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 are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified for 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Mount Cook rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Mount Cook rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This 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 damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Mount Cook

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to 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 through The Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Cook include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.