What Tenants Need to Know - Healthy Homes Standard Compliance Statement

From 1 December 2020, landlords must include a separately signed healthy homes standards compliance statement in new, renewed, or varied tenancy agreements. It is important that as a tenant you understand why this is required. Here's a summary covering some of the key information.

Why is this compliance statement needed?

Landlords have to include detailed information in their tenancy agreements about how their property meets the Healthy Homes Standards. This confirms that:

• on and after the start of the tenancy, the landlord will comply with the healthy homes standards as required by either section 45(1)(bb) – Residential Tenancies, or section 66I(1)(bb) – Boarding House Tenancies, of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, or
• that the landlord already complies with the healthy homes standards as required by either section 45(1)(bb) – Residential Tenancies, or section 66I(1)(bb) – Boarding House Tenancies, of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

What does the compliance statement cover?

The compliance statement is comprehensive and covers all five Healthy Homes Standards (heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping)  and exemptions, to ensure landlords meet their obligations under the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019.

Whilst the compliance statement is not required in certain circumstances as listed below, best practice is for landlords to become compliant as soon as possible: 

• It is not required if the tenancy is fixed-term and ends before the healthy homes compliance dates for the tenancy.
• A statement is also not needed with any agreements for fixed terms entered into before 1 July 2021 and which end after that date (e.g. a 12-month fixed term starting 1 January 2021 would end on 1 January 2022 and the compliance date is 90 days after that - 1 April 2022). A statement is needed for any new or renewed or varied agreements after 1 July 2021.

Tenancy services provide this decision tool to find out if the compliance statement should be included in your tenancy agreement. Check it out. 

Any queries

If you’ve got any questions about the compliance statement and how it impacts you as a tenant, talk to your landlord or the property manager of your rental.