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? Landlords must ensure that their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’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 to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is 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 contract is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Belmont, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Belmont rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

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

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within the house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Belmont

Belmont rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Belmont

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Belmont

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the home to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Belmont

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Belmont include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for in a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.