Healthy Homes Assessment Upper Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Upper Hutt rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can 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 about the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Upper Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Upper Hutt, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Upper Hutt rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Upper Hutt rental properties.

Start now and call about the Upper Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Upper Hutt

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Upper Hutt

Rental properties in Upper Hutt require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Upper Hutt

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate 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 high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Upper Hutt

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Upper Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your 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 Upper Hutt

The areas of rental property that are affected with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Upper Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Upper Hutt for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.