Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

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? Landlords must make sure their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an evaluation 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 in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified to evaluate 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Belmont, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Belmont rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might just require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Belmont

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Belmont

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier to allow the house to retain the 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 the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

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 to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Belmont

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.