With new regulations here to ensure everyone has a safe place to live, and the Winter weather ramping up, we're sure you'll be seeing the term 'Healthy Home' a lot more. But what does it actually mean?
The Government have spent a lot of time reviewing legislation to ensure all residential rental properties comply with the Health Home Standards.
So what does this mean for you?
From July 2020 all new, updated and varied tenancy agreements require a statement for every property that details Insulation, Heating, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage compliance in relation to the standards.
The healthy homes standards introduce specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties.
QSPlus are all over the Healthy Homes Standards, and we've listed them below:
Heating standard
Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room. The heater must be an acceptable type, and must meet the minimum heating capacity required for your living room.
Insulation standard
Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. The healthy homes insulation standard builds on the current regulations and some existing insulation will need to be topped up or replaced.
Ventilation standard
Rental homes must have openable windows in the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans.
Moisture ingress and drainage standard
Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water. Rental properties with an enclosed sub-floor space must have a ground moisture barrier.
Draught stopping standard
Landlords must make sure the property doesn’t have unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, skylights, floors and doors which cause noticeable draughts. All unused open fireplaces closed off or their chimneys must be blocked to prevent draughts.
Unsure how your property complies?
We can assess how your property fits within the standards. Contact us today!
