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? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a 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 inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is 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 requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Mount Cook rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Mount Cook rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook need to have a stable heating source that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the home to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected 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 rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Cook

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.