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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Belmont, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Belmont rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Belmont rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Belmont

Belmont rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Belmont

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. 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 by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Belmont include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.