Your landlord has to:

  • Put an acceptable fixed heater in the main living area.
  • Put extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom.
  • Fix any unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts.
  • Put acceptable insulation in the ceiling and underfloor.
  • Make sure gutters, downpipes and drains work.


Read our short guide to find out more about what’s required at your boarding house.

Short guide to the healthy homes standards [PDF, 198 KB]

Healthy homes standards(external link) – Tenancy Services

If you don’t think your boarding house has everything it needs, then ask your landlord. If that doesn’t work find out what you can do next on the Tenancy Services website.

Compliance timeframes – what to do if your rental doesn’t comply by its deadline(external link)

How you can help keep your home healthy

Keeping your home healthy isn’t just up to your landlord. Here are some little things you can do daily to help keep you and your housemates warm, dry and healthy.

Healthy habits

How do you know if you live in a boarding house?

Here are some of the key things that can make a rental home a boarding house.

The number of tenants

There are (or intends to be) 6 or more tenants living in the home.

Shared facilities

Tenants share spaces like the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.

Tenancy agreement for each tenant

There’s a tenancy agreement for each tenant, rather than an agreement for the whole house.

Length of the tenancy

The tenancy lasts (or is intended to last) for 28 days or longer.

 

For more information about boarding house tenancies see the Tenancy Services website.

Boarding houses(external link) – Tenancy Services