Am I living in a healthy home?

A healthy home is one that is warm and dry. To be considered a ‘healthy home’, it must be between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius) and have humidity levels of between 40 and 60 percent).

The Healthy Homes Standards provide a set of standards that the home you live in should meet to be considered a ‘healthy home.’ While the Healthy Home Standards apply to residential rental properties, they provide a useful framework for people that own their own home.

Under the Healthy Homes Standards, a home should have:

• A fixed heater that can adequately heat the main living area to 18 degrees
• Insulation that meets the 2008 Building Code
• Adequate ventilation, including extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms and at least one window, door or skylight in other rooms that can open to the outside
• Proper drainage
• All draughts blocked

Concerned that your home doesn’t meet the healthy home standards? There are organisations that will assess your home – this service is often free.