Continuously operating extractor fans that operate at a level of extraction below 25 litres per second , or do not have a fan and ducting diameter of at least 120mm , are not compliant .
Installed BEFORE 1 July 2019 : No minimum size or performance requirements but fans must be in a good working order and ventilate to outdoors . This means that the extractor fan must not vent extracted air into a roof space or other space . Any ducting must be connected , intact ( i . e . without tears or holes ) and installed so that exhaust air can flow freely through it . Any grills or filters must be unclogged .
What are the requirements for existing extractor fans ? Existing extractor fans installed before 1 July 2019 must be in good working order and ventilate to the outdoors . These fans don ’ t need to meet the size or performance requirements .
What are the exemptions to the ventilation standard ? There are two specific exemptions to the ventilation standard . A room does not need to meet the requirements for openable windows and external doors if it was lawful at the time it was built or converted .
If a bathroom or kitchen does not have an extractor fan that meets the current requirements at the start of the tenancy , the landlord will not be required to install an extractor fan if all of the following apply to that room :
It is not reasonably practicable to install an extractor fan
• When the room was built or converted , not having an extractor fan was lawful ; and
• If not having an extractor fan was lawful only because the room met alternative ventilation requirements , the room still meets those requirements at the commencement of the tenancy .
It is not reasonably practicable to install extractor fans if a professional installer can ’ t access the area without :
• Carrying out substantial building work , or
• Causing substantial damage to the property , or
• Creating greater risks to a person ’ s health and safety than is normally acceptable , or
• It is otherwise not reasonably practicable for a professional installer to carry out the work .
Moisture and drainage
Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of stormwater , surface water and groundwater , including an appropriate outfall . The drainage system must include gutters , downpipes and drains for the removal of water from the roof .
If the rental property has an enclosed subfloor , a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so .
What are the drainage and guttering requirements ? A rental property must :
• Efficiently drain storm water , surface water , and ground water to an appropriate outfall , and
• Include appropriate gutters , downpipes , and drains to remove water from the roof .
When assessing a rental property , landlords should ensure the following :
• That gutters and downpipes are present to carry away water from all parts of the roof and no roof water is being discharged onto the ground
• That none of the gutters and downpipes overflow during normal rainfall
• That gutters have sufficient fall for water to flow into the connected downpipe - there must be no stagnant water
• That gutters and downpipes are intact and fixed well to the home ( not loose )
• That gutters and downpipes are not blocked
• That all downpipes direct water to an appropriate outfall , such as the storm water system provided by the local council
• No surface water rises from surrounding ground
• No water can rise up through damaged brick , concrete masonry , foundations or concrete floor .
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