[hiccamups]

Is there any obligation that a rental property have opening windows? And is there a minimal amount of windows that do open (for example 4 of 12 open)?

I've read through the documentation and requirements of a Landlord in WA but it doesn't say anything specifically about opening windows but does mention that windows must close securely.

[Leafprincess]

My understanding is that all habitable rooms I.e. bedrooms must have a a winow that can open.

This is for fire and evacuation reasons.

For rooms like laundry or storage which are not use a habitable areas I guess it wouldn't need to open?

[causeway]

I would check the Building Code of Australia. I would think that this would be covered there. Sometimes, the answers you seek are not right before your eyes. You just need to dig a bit.

[QueenOfTheDesert]

My understanding is that all habitable rooms I.e. bedrooms must have a a winow that can open.

This is for fire and evacuation reasons.

For rooms like laundry or storage which are not use a habitable areas I guess it wouldn't need to open?

This is my understanding too.

[Alacritous~Andy]

I ink the laws around windows are more to do with ventilation than evacuation. Rental apartments we've lived in have had windows that open for ventilation purposes, but you would never be able to use them for evacuation purposes. This is in brand new building, wealthy area (sigh - pre-kids).

I think the code is around quantity of air flow, rather than number of windows. I know that's the case for bathrooms/toilets, but not sure about bedrooms.

The lack of windows/natural light was one of the reasons we left our apartment. I hated it. Good luck, OP.

[JRA]

My understanding is that all habitable rooms I.e. bedrooms must have a a winow that can open.

This is for fire and evacuation reasons.

For rooms like laundry or storage which are not use a habitable areas I guess it wouldn't need to open?

There are many houses/apartments that are built that don't have opening windows in lounge rooms or such, and certainly windows that can be used for evacuation

[SeaPrincess]

I think if they don't, there should be some duty of disclosure that the windows don't open. I haven't even tried to open all the windows in our house yet, but I guess I'll be doing it tomorrow!

R

[Holidayromp]

Well not helpful but from what I can gather when you rent in WA there are **** all rights for tenants. So from what I have learnt recently suck it up or move that generally what the rights are for tenants as per the socalled tenant advisory/protection 'services' and even then good luck trying to get out of the lease.

[JJ]

I don't know what the laws are, if any, but seeing you have mould issues I would think it's extremely important that you have at least one window or door per room that opens, just based on common sense (of which your LL doesn't seem to have any ). I have one room where the windows don't open (one does, but it's a bit dodgy so I prefer not to fiddle with it), but it has an outside door, so that's OK.

[hiccamups]

Holidayromp, REIWA advised us to just exploit our rights with this lovely LL and just keep asking for things to be fixed, which might eventually tick her off enough to let us out of our lease. Not that we relish at being pain in the asses, but we'll try to enjoy it. ;P

There are very few windows in this house that open, without risk of the glass smashing, so I was just thinking if I can find something about it, I might ask that they get fixed before the warmer weather.

I'm quite keen for the bedrooms to have a window at least that opens as the kids room is getting a bit stale. Given the cold weather so far, I've opened the front and back doors and one side window in the back part of the house.

Sometimes, the answers you seek are not right before your eyes. You just need to dig a bit.

Yes, I think I'll go into the building codes a little. Not wanting to waste too much energy on it, but a quick look might reveal something. And I love you can search 'windows' with Google. Nifty.

Thanks again everyone.