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? Landlords are now required to ensure their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Belmont, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Belmont rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Belmont rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out within your house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can 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 need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont require a reliable heating source that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, 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 and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could require a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

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

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Belmont

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• 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

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Belmont

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.