Posted on 06 12 2020

What You Need To Know About the Healthy Homes Ventilation Standard

By now, you are undoubtedly aware that The Healthy Homes Standards officially became law as of 1 July 2019. There are five healthy home standards, which include specific and minimum requirements for rental properties. 

To target mould and dampness, ventilation is one of these standards. 

Kitchens and bathrooms in rental properties were previously only required to have an openable window. But as of 1 July 2021, all kitchens and bathrooms must also have an extractor fan that vents to the outside. 

Any fans installed before 1 July 2019 are not required to meet these new standards. However, if they stop working, any repairs or replacements must comply with the new standards. 

Recirculating range hoods won’t meet the standard as they don’t vent to the outside and will need to be replaced with a compliant one. 

The new ventilation standards must be met within 90 days of a new lease or lease renewal by 1 July 2021, with all rental properties complying by 1 July 2024.   

It is also important to note that landlords also must make a statement about their property’s home ventilation status in any new or varied tenancy agreement. For more information, check out our article on the Healthy Homes Compliance Statements.

What are the standards for kitchens?

Any room with a cooktop will need new fans or range hoods installed. 

Extractor fans installed after 1 July 2019:

• •Fans and exhaust ducting must have a diameter of at least 150 mm or have an exhaust with a capacity of at least 50 litres per second
• •Fans must vent outdoors

Extractor fans installed before 1 July 2019:

• •There are no minimum size or performance requirements
• •Fans must be in good working order 
• •Fans ventilate outdoors 
• •Range hoods or extractor fans should not vent back into the kitchen
• •All ducting must be intact and undamaged 
• •All grills or filters must be unclogged 

What are the standards for bathrooms? 

Any room with a bath or shower installed will also need new fans.

Extractor fans installed after 1 July 2019:

• •Fans and exhaust ducting must have a diameter of at least 120mm or have an exhaust with a capacity of at least 25 litres per second 
• •Fans must vent to the outdoors 
• •Fans that either operate at a level below 25 litres per second or have a ducting diameter of at least than 120mm are incapable of providing the necessary level of moisture extraction 

Extractor fans installed before 1 July 2019:  

• •There are no minimum size or performance requirements
• •Fans must be in good working order 
• •Fans ventilate to the outdoors 
• •Extractor fans must not vent back into the roof space or any other space
• •All ducting must be intact and undamaged 
• •All grills or filters must be unclogged 

COVID’s impact on extractor fans 

It is perhaps exhausting at this point to learn about something else COVID has affected. But unfortunately, it is likely to have an impact on the new ventilation standards. 

These new standards bring in a new demand for extractor fans to be manufactured, one that will likely be interrupted by COVID, as have most supply chains. 

As this demand will only increase the closer we get to the deadline, we recommend making sure you meet all of the requirements well beforehand. 

Need a fan installed, repaired, or replaced? 

We provide cost-effective solutions for ventilation and the other four areas of the Healthy Homes Standards. Saving time for property managers and landlords and minimises disruption to tenants, reducing multiple contractors visiting them.

Our experienced and friendly team of assessors and installers are all employed in-house and can help you get ready for the upcoming deadlines quickly and efficiently.