Understanding the Healthy Homes standards
The rules focus on basic requirements for heating, insulation, and ventilation. As of next Tuesday, every rental property must adhere to these standards. Landlords are required to provide fixed heaters in the main living room that meet minimum heating capacity. Additionally, properties need to be insulated in the ceiling and under the floor, unless structurally impossible. Each liveable area must have a window or door that opens to the outdoors, kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans, and efficient drainage systems are necessary.
What to do if your home does not meet the standards?
If you believe that the property you are renting does not meet these requirements, there are steps you can take. Start by discussing the issue with your landlord or property manager and check for a Healthy Homes compliance statement in your tenancy agreement. If the problem persists, you can provide written notice to your landlord requesting that they address the issues. Tenants can give landlords a 14-day notice to resolve specific issues.
Seeking help through the Tenancy Tribunal
If the previous steps do not yield results, tenants can seek assistance from the Tenancy Tribunal. The Tribunal can issue work orders for landlords to make necessary improvements, order compensation for failure to comply, or award damages for not meeting minimum standards. For serious or repeated breaches, especially those impacting vulnerable individuals, tenants can contact the tenancy compliance and investigations team.
It is important for tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities when renting a property. Resources are available on the Tenancy Services’ website to guide first-time renters through the process. Remember, tenants are responsible for maintaining a rental property in a reasonably clean and tidy condition.
By Susan Edmunbds
