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 July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Belmont rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Belmont rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Belmont, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improving the quality of Belmont rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Belmont rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Belmont Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Belmont

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Belmont

Rental properties in Belmont require a reliable source of heat which can warm the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Belmont

Each liveable space in a rental house must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Belmont

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make more easy to the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs 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 can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Belmont Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The 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 Healthy Homes Standards. 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 many things you should look for in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.