Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Belmont 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 that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of 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 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Belmont, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Belmont rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for 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 are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being homes

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Belmont

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Belmont

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Belmont

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house assessment.