Healthy Homes Assessment Lower Hutt

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Lower Hutt rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements 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 up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Lower Hutt rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Lower Hutt, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Lower Hutt rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Lower Hutt rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Lower Hutt Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lower Hutt

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Lower Hutt

Rental properties in Lower Hutt need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lower Hutt

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Lower Hutt

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the home to keep the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Lower Hutt Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lower Hutt

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Lower Hutt include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lower Hutt for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient 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 an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home assessment.