This question is from Cliff on the healthy homes heating disclosure standard:

Four years ago, I installed heat pumps in all my rental properties. All of the heat pumps are 5 and 6kw. I need help filling up the HHS form in the new tenancy agreement form. In January 2022, when I filled out the tenancy agreement form for my new tenant, I didn’t come across this section: ‘Alternative pathway to compliance’ where the landlord has to provide why this regulation applies and the name and qualifications of the specialist.

I have calculated the required heating capacity using Tenancy Services’ heating assessment tool. I comply and even exceed their requirements. Do I need a specialist to assess the heat pump’s heating capacity? Do you know any independent heat pump specialist that can carry out the inspection? 

You are referring to question 6 (and, by extension, question 7) on pages 4 and 5 of Tenancy Services’ HHS compliance statement template. The short answer is that you only need to answer them if you rely on regulation 10A or 10B to meet the HHS heating standard. In most cases, landlords who use Tenancy Services’ heating assessment tool for compliance purposes (per regulation 10) can skip questions 6 and 7.

Zooming out somewhat to look at the bigger picture, from 12 May 2022, there are three pathways for a property to meet the HHS heating standard:

  1. By meeting the required heating capacity as determined by Tenancy Services’ heating assessment tool (regulation 10);
    • In which case, the landlord fills in questions 2 to 5 and skips...