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? The landlords are now required to ensure their Mount Cook 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work which requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6790

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Mount Cook rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not 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 matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Mount Cook, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Mount Cook rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Mount Cook rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Mount Cook Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Cook

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Mount Cook

Rental properties in Mount Cook require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Cook

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Mount Cook

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Mount Cook Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing 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 Mount Cook

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Cook include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Cook for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.