![]() Similarly, new legislation in Queensland (coming into effect in September) states rental properties should be free from vermin, damp and mould where this is caused by issues with the structural soundness of the property. Landlords now must disclose if they have treated mould in the past three years. In Victoria, residential tenancies legislation has set the criteria that “each room in the rented premises must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure”. Renters should familiarise themselves with the regulations in their jurisdiction. Tenancy legislation varies by state and territory. Australian Housing Conditions Dataset 2022 doi:10.26193/SLCU9J, Author provided Where does the responsibility lie? The difference between owners and renters is greatest in the ACT. Mould is most commonly reported in New South Wales. Mould is more prevalent in rentals compared to owner-occupied dwellings. However, there is no guidance on how to assess the health of the indoor environment, or to deliver a building direction that will address the root cause for mould. That’s because there’s ambiguity in the National Construction Code around “minimum standards of health”.įor example the Victorian Building Act 1993 contains some provisions for the relevant surveyor to serve a notice on the basis of a health circumstance affecting a user. A building deemed to meet the minimum standards of the construction code with respect to mould may not meet the minimum standards for rental. There is a gap between building and residential tenancies legislation. Problems with managing mould in the rental sector Thinking of buying a dehumidifier? Advice from an expert on mould and damp People worry about the consequences for their health and there is a growing body of evidence describing the negative mental health effects of mouldy, damp homes. A systematic review of peer-reviewed research found children living in mouldy homes were more likely to experience asthma, wheeze and allergic irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and mouth (allergic rhinitis). The World Health Organization recognises mould can be harmful.Ī 2022 Asthma Australia report revealed people living in mouldy homes were more likely to have asthma and allergies. Appendix 2, Author provided How mould makes people sick al., (2020), Warm, cool and energy-affordable housing policy solutions for low-income renters, AHURI Final Report, vol. Nicola Willand, using data from Moore et. Rental homes have more structural defects than owner-occupied homes. Combining our expertise in health, law, building and construction, we examine the problem of mould in homes and offer guidance for both renters and landlords. Heading into winter, after three consecutive La Niñas, conditions are ripe for a mega-mould season. The landlord came around walked every room where there’s black mould on the ceiling – like it’s freaking Stranger Things – and she’s like, ‘Oh, a little bit of mould in winter, it’s very normal, it’s fine this happens every winter, it’s not a big deal’. As one Melbourne renter and research participant told our colleague Maria Gatto, during a study validating mould reporting: Landlords and tenants are caught in the middle of a tussle over who is responsible for fixing the problem. Once buildings are infested with mould, the difficult and costly issue of remediation arises. This is a concern as excessive mould growth is known to harm human health. Rental properties are more likely be mouldy than other homes. RMIT University provides funding as a strategic partner of The Conversation AU. University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU. Tim Law receives or has received funding from the Victorian Building Authority, the National Health Medical and Research Council, the Australian Building Codes Board, Tasmania Consumer Building and Occupational Services, and Commercialisation Australia. She is affiliated with the Australian Institute of Architects. Nicola Willand receives or has received funding for research from various organisations, including the Australian Research Council, the Victorian State Government, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, the Future Fuels Collaborative Research Centre and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Centre. Rebecca Bentley receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. Guest lecturer and Practice Lead - Building Sciences, at Restoration Industry Consultants Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Professor of Social Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne ![]()
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