Healthy Homes Assessment Mornington

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Mornington 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 are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Mornington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Mornington rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and request a house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Mornington, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Mornington rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Mornington rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Mornington Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mornington

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely 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 let air into or out from the house require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Mornington

Rental properties in Mornington need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest 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 wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Mornington

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Mornington

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the home to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mornington Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mornington

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Mornington include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mornington for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.