Healthy Homes Assessment Mount Victoria

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Mount Victoria rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully certified for each of 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Mount Victoria rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Mount Victoria, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Mount Victoria rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be 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 standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Mount Victoria rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Mount Victoria Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Mount Victoria

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door during 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 for well-being homes

Heating Mount Victoria

Mount Victoria rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Mount Victoria

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces 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 have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Mount Victoria

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Mount Victoria Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Mount Victoria

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Mount Victoria include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Mount Victoria for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.