Healthy Homes Assessment Belmont

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure 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 rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Belmont, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Belmont rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Control for Belmont rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A damp house will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the living area already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Belmont

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to allow the household 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 measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper 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 making sure your property is dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Belmont

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.