|
From the 1st of September 2023 and for all tenancies from the 1st of September 2024 new minimum housing standards will come into effect. The new standards will apply to tenancies including general tenancies, movable dwellings and rooming accommodation agreements.
The minimum housing standards aim to ensure all Queensland rental properties are safe, secure and reasonably functional. The new standards will complement existing legislation, which states that a property must be fit to live in, in good repair and compliant with health and safety laws. To meet minimum housing standards, the rental property will need to meet the criteria outlined below.
Safety and Security
The property must:
- Be weatherproof and structurally sound
- The roofing or windows must prevent water from entering the premises when it rains
- The floor, walls, ceiling, roof and any decks or stairs must not be likely to collapse because of rot, defect, or significant dampness
- Be in good repair, with fixtures and fittings (such as electrical appliances) that are not likely to cause injury through normal use
- Have functioning locks or latches on all external doors and windows that can be reached from outside the premises without a ladder
- Be free from vermin, dampness, and mould (this does not include cases where vermin, dampness or mould has been caused by the tenant)
- Have privacy coverings for windows in all rooms where the tenant could reasonably expect privacy, such as bedrooms. Privacy coverings for windows:
- Include blinds curtains, tinting and glass frosting
- Do not apply if the line of sight of someone outside the property and someone inside the property is blocked, for example, if the window is obstructed by a fence, a hedge, tree, or other feature of the property.
Reasonable functionality
The property must:
- have adequate plumbing and drainage for the number of people occupying the premises
- be connected to a water supply service or other infrastructure that supplies hot and cold water suitable for drinking
- provide privacy in bathroom areas
- have toilets that are all flushable and refillable, and connected to a sewer, septic tank or other waste disposal system
- have a functioning cooktop, if a kitchen is provided
- include the necessary fixtures for a functional laundry, such as tap fixtures and adequate plumbing, if laundry facilities are provided. The laundry does not have to include a washing machine or other white goods as these may be provided by the tenant.
There are different options available to tenants depending on if the property fails to meet minimum housing standards when they first move into the property or during the tenancy.
The property manager/owner is responsible for ensuring the premises and inclusions comply with prescribed minimum housing standards at the start and throughout the tenancy. The tenant is responsible for contacting the property manager/owner as soon as they become aware of any repairs that need to be made to the rental property.
If the rental property fails to meet minimum housing standards because of issues caused by the actions of the tenant, the property manager/owner can issue the tenant with a Notice to remedy the breach (Form 11) and the tenant may have to pay for the repairs.
Speak to your property manager today to ensure that your investment is meeting the required standards.
For further information on the minimum standards contact the Residential Tenancies Authority - RTA at 1300 366 311
|
