D5 Reducing the negative impacts of over-crowding

COMMUNITY CHECK AND FIX

For houses with large populations, consider a program to check and fix the following health hardware items every few months because they may need more maintenance due to wear and tear.

• safety switches for electrical safety
• smoke alarms for fire safety
• stairs and hand rails (1), floor coverings and other building components for safety
• function of all house taps, yard taps (2), spouts, shower roses, toilet (3) and drains
• function of septic system and grease trap, and look for leaks or pools of water in yard
• function of hot water system, check there is enough hot water at 45°C
• clothes drying facilities (4)
• stove function (5) and outdoor cooking facilities (6), if available
• doors and door handles (7)
• windows and security screens (8)
• replace missing or blown light bulbs
• all cupboards and robes (9)
• fences and gates (10).

TRADE TEST AND FIX

• Undertake regular electrical safety tests, and prioritise urgent maintenance.
• Arrange for regular tests of plumbing and gas installation, and prioritise urgent
• Prioritise works to make sure the building is safe.