Five questions landlords keep asking about Healthy Homes compliance.
You paid for the assessment, completed the work and got your rental up to the Healthy Homes standards. So when another check is recommended, it’s fair to ask: haven’t we done this already?
We hear that regularly. Across our portfolio of more than 22,000 rentals, our property managers deal with Healthy Homes inspections, maintenance and compliance every day. Here are a few questions that keep cropping up, with answers that clarify what ongoing compliance involves.
Q1. What does ‘passed’ actually mean?
It means the property met the Healthy Homes standards when it was assessed. The assessment report and supporting records remain useful evidence of what was checked and any work completed, but it cannot confirm that everything is still in the same condition six months or a year later.
The fact remains that Healthy Homes compliance is an ongoing requirement, and the property must continuously comply with the legislation throughout the life of the tenancy. The question eventually shifts from “Did my property pass?” to “Does it still meet the standards today?”
Q2. Does every check mean another full assessment?
No. Tenancy Services recommends checking key Healthy Homes components during regular inspections and at the end of a tenancy. A routine inspection can cover many visible and accessible items and flag signs of damage, dampness or deterioration.
A specialist assessment may be recommended when something cannot be properly inspected or verified, a tenant has raised an unresolved concern or work has taken place that could have affected compliance. The aim is not to reassess for the sake of it. It is to know when a closer look is genuinely warranted.
Q3. How can compliance slip?
Usually through small changes over time rather than one dramatic failure. A heat pump or ventilation system can stop performing as it should. Ceiling or underfloor insulation can settle, become damp or be disturbed by tradespeople. Gutters, downpipes and drains can become blocked or damaged. A ground moisture barrier can tear or shift, while seals can deteriorate and new gaps can open around doors and windows.
Any of these changes can affect whether the property still meets one or more of the standards.
Q4. Who is responsible for keeping track of it all?
Under tenancy law, the landlord is responsible for ensuring their rental property meets the Healthy Homes standards during the entire tenure of the tenancy.
Tenants have a part to play too: keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy, using the ventilation provided, cleaning accessible filters and reporting anything that is damaged or not working. If dampness or mould appears, the cause should be investigated, not assumed. It may be how the home is being used, an issue with the property or both.
Q5. How can a property manager help?
If you self-manage, the compliance checks, repairs and record-keeping sit with you. Where Barfoot & Thompson manages your property, they form a core part of our role. We identify issues, recommend when specialist input is needed, arrange approved work and keep the paperwork in order.
The standards come from the Government. Our job is to facilitate the process, make compliance manageable and - as always - help protect your investment. For a quick refresher on the Healthy Homes standards, read more here.
Have questions? Get in touch with your local Barfoot & Thompson branch, or talk to your dedicated property manager today.
Read more Property Management News here
Not subscribed to our landlords' newsletter, the Property Management Insider? Sign up now
Are you renting and want to stay on top of the latest news, too? Sign up for the Rental Insider here.