Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Cook

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Mount Cook rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

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

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Mount Cook rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Mount Cook

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.