Healthy Home Standards

The Healthy Homes Standards are here and we are busy working towards the first deadline of July 2020. From previous experience when the insulation standards were released we realised that it was best to wait until the dust settles to definitively understand what the regulations are to ensure your property meets the Healthy Homes Standards. We are currently working to find the best professional assessors and suppliers to undertake these works. We will communicate with you in due course how your property meets these standards and what is required to ensure that it is compliant.

THE HEALTHY HOMES STANDARDS - AN OVERVIEW

The healthy homes standards introduce specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. All private rentals must comply within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy after 1 July 2021, with all private rentals complying by 1 July 2024.

INSULATION

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019, where it is reasonably practicable to instal. Some existing insulation in rental properties will need to be topped up or replaced. Depending on location, ceiling insulation needs to meet minimum R-values, or existing ceiling insulation installed before 1 July 2016 needs to be at least 120mm thick. Underfloor insulation needs a minimum R-value of 1.3. * ‘R’ stands for resistance – an R-value is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow.

HEATING

All rental properties must have one or more fixed heaters, which can directly heat the main living room to at least 18°C and can maintain this temperature all year round. Certain heating devices that are inefficient, unaffordable or unhealthy will not meet the requirements of this standard.

VENTILATION

Rental properties must have at least one door or window (including skylights) that opens to the outside in all bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, lounges and kitchens. The openable windows and doors must have a total area of at least five per cent of the floor area in each respective room. The windows or doors must be able to be fixed in the open position. All kitchens and bathrooms must have an extractor fan that ventilates externally.

DRAUGHT STOPPING

Landlords must block any unreasonable gaps and holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors and doors that cause noticeable draughts. Open fireplaces must be blocked unless the tenant and landlord agree otherwise. There are some exceptions that apply to each of these standards, and there are also general exemptions that may apply to some rental homes.

WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW AND WHAT ARE OUR TIMELINES?

From 1 JULY 2019

Ceiling and underfloor insulation became compulsory in all rental homes where it is reasonably practicable to install. Landlords must include a signed statement with any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement that they will comply, or already do comply, with the healthy homes standards. This statement is in addition to the existing requirement since

From 1 July 2016

to include a signed insulation statement with all new tenancy agreements that covers what insulation a property has, where it is, what type and what condition. Landlords must keep records that demonstrate compliance with any healthy homes standards that apply or will apply during the tenancy.

FROM 1 JULY 2020

Landlords must include a statement of their current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards in any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement.

FROM 1 JULY 2021

Private landlords must ensure their rental properties comply with the healthy homes standards within 90 days of any new, or renewed, tenancy.

FROM 1 JULY 2024

All rental homes must comply with the health homes standards.

Written by Zelda from Residential Rentals Ltd

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