Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

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

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Belmont, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Belmont rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Belmont rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Belmont

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor 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 Belmont

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Belmont include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.