Here we give you a brief synopsis of not only the Healthy Homes Standards that your landlord is required to meet but also what YOU can do to keep your living space as healthy as possible.
Your landlord is required to provide a Healthy Homes Statement with your new tenancy agreement stating that they comply with the standards. These are:
- Fixed heating source in main living area – appropriate size for area.
- Sufficient insulation – should be equal or greater than ceiling R3.3 and underfloor R1.3. Wall insulation is preferred but not compulsory.
- Ventilation – opening windows, doors or skylights in each habitable space. Kitchen and bathroom must have an extractor fan vented to the outside.
- Draughts – no unreasonable gaps in walls, doors, windows. Fireplace closed off if not in use.
- Adequate storm water drainage outside and moisture barrier under the floor.
If you’re not sure whether your flat complies or not, OUSA Student Support can talk this through with you.
What can YOU do to keep your living space as healthy as possible?
Keeping your flat warm and dry gives you a better chance at getting through the Dunners winter without coming down with every illness that’s going around.
Moisture control is the biggie! As a flat you need to collectively keep your moisture levels down. The biggest culprits are boiling pots without lids, taking long hot showers and drying clothes inside – tricky to avoid in Dunedin! So:
- Dry your clothes outside or in a dryer that is vented to the outside.
- Put lids on pots when cooking.
- Keep the bathroom well-ventilated when showering – open windows, extractor fan on.
- Crack the windows open at least twice a day for 10-15 minutes to ventilate the flat.
- Dry your windows & sills every morning – use a window squeegee and towel to soak. it up. Dry the towel outside afterwards.
- Use a dehumidifier if there are any signs of moisture/mould.
Signs of Moisture/Mould:
- Beads of water on windows.
- Pools of water on windowsills.
- Bed feels damp.
- Damp patches or running water on walls, ceilings, corners or recesses of rooms.
- Black spots/mould on walls (internal & external). Check behind the bed and furniture. where there is little air flow.
- Mould on curtains and clothes.
- Carpet mould is often a sign of penetrating dampness – check with the landlord about the moisture barrier.
- Use 70% white vinegar and 30% water mix for killing mould. Spray on, wipe away and spray again to prevent regrowth.
Heating is important:
- Heat your space for longer than the free ‘power hours’. Know how to use your heating source efficiently to get maximum benefit from power use.
- Thermal curtains reduce heat loss by 60%. Apply to get them for a small fee from Dunedin Curtain Bank. https://dunedincurtainbank.org.nz/
Lastly, a healthy living space is one that not only looks after your physical health but your mental and spiritual health as well. Try to create spaces in your flat that are aesthetically pleasing to you (plants, artworks, photographs), spaces you want to live in, to hang out together or to be alone. You can talk about this together and might use a household agreement to set some guidelines for how spaces will be collectively used.