Healthy homes standards amendments announced
The Government has announced upcoming changes to the healthy homes standards These changes are expected to take effect in May 2022.
Changes will be made to the heating, ventilation, and moisture ingress and drainage standards.
As the changes are not expected to become law until May 2022, until then private landlords must ensure their rental properties comply with the current healthy homes standards within 90 days of any new, or renewed, tenancy.
Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 changes
All landlords, including boarding house landlords, must comply with the laws in the Residential Tenancies Act (the Act). Broad changes to the Act were introduced as part of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 that will impact both landlords and tenants.
The changes come into force across 3 key dates:
Phase 1 (already in force) 12 August 2020
From 12 August 2020, rent can only be increased once every 12 months and transitional and emergency housing is exempt from the Act.
Read more about the changes in phase 1
Phase 2 (already in force) 11 February 2021
From 11 February 2021, multiple changes to different parts of tenancy law took effect.
Read more about the changes in phase 2
Phase 3 – dependent on regulations
Phase 3 will come into force once new regulations have taken effect.
The changes in phase 3 will mean tenancies can be terminated if family violence or landlord assault has occurred.
Subscribe for information
To stay up to date with the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act and what it means for you, subscribe to our Legislative Updates email.