Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

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? Landlords are now required to make sure their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified for both 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation 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?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Belmont, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Belmont rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental 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 maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Belmont rental properties.

Start now and call about the Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the house require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Belmont

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

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Belmont

Every living space of the rental property should include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The 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 the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Belmont

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to allow the house to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps prevent 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 Belmont

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Belmont include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over during a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.