Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure 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 completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can 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 that requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Belmont, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Belmont rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Belmont rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy houses

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Belmont

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate 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 this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Belmont

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Belmont include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check during a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house assessment.