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 July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new 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 will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with 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 $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6791

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a 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 each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease 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.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Belmont, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Belmont rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Belmont rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Belmont

Belmont rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Belmont

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier for the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the 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 The Healthy Homes Standards in Belmont include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Belmont for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.