If you invest in residential property, you want quality tenants in your home to make sure you get a good return on your investment. Good tenants pay their rent on time and look after your home like it’s their own.
One of the best ways to attract good tenants is to have a quality home that people want to live in. This means keeping it up to standard to ensure it’s warm, dry and comfortable.
According to recent Tenancy Services dispute resolution data, failure to meet healthy homes standards is the fourth most common reason for tenants to raise a dispute with their landlord.
This shows that tenants are aware of the healthy homes standards and expect their home to be up to code.
What are the healthy homes standards?
The healthy homes standards came into law in 2019, aiming to ensure homes are warm and dry.
Heating requirements include providing at least one fixed heater for the main living areas. Heaters must meet certain standards, such as having appropriate heating capacity relative to the size of the space.
Homes are required to have ceiling and underfloor insulation (with some exceptions for homes where installing insulation is not practical), and all rooms must have at least one door or window that opens to the outside.
Rental properties are also required to have efficient drainage, and landlords must block any unreasonable gaps and holes in walls that cause noticeable draughts.
How can you be sure your home meets healthy homes standards?
At Glasshouse, our experienced managers are well-versed in the healthy homes standards.
They work with landlords all the time to ensure their homes meet these standards, so if you’re unsure about whether your home is up to scratch, they can set you right.
If your home doesn’t meet the healthy homes standards, our managers have a comprehensive database of tradespeople that can perform upgrades reliably, quickly, and at a good price.
