All rentals now have to comply fully with the healthy homes standards.
What are they?
The healthy homes standards became law in 2019 and have finally became in full effect on 1 July 2025.
Here’s a reminder of what that actually means.
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From 1 July 2025, all rental homes have to comply with the healthy homes minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, drainage and draught stopping. The standards came into law in July 2019, so landlords have had five years to fully comply with the staggered requirements (timeframes for complying with each of the standards differed depending on when new tenancies started and the type of property, so some properties were required to fully comply some time ago).
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Research has shown that rental homes in Aotearoa are of poorer quality than owner-occupied homes, with over a third having issues with dampness or mould in the year ending June 2022. Cold, damp, mouldy housing is linked to poorer health and preventable conditions like asthma and rheumatic fever. The healthy homes standards are intended to legislate for drier, warmer rental homes. So what are they?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Heating
There must be at least one fixed heater that can directly heat the main living room (the largest room used for general, everyday living) that must be at least 1.5kW in heating capacity. The exact capacity of the heater depends on the size of the room. In most homes acceptable heaters will be heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters. In some homes like small apartments, smaller fixed electric heaters may be enough. Open fires, portable LPG bottle heaters and plug-in electric heaters do not meet the requirements.
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Any loopholes?
If a landlord installed heating before July 1, 2019 and the heater has a total heating capacity that’s at least 80% of the required capacity, they do not need to add more heating. If the capacity is less than 80%, they can add a small fixed electric heater to “top up” the heating as long as the top-up is 2.4 kW or less.
Some properties (mainly in Rotorua) can meet the heating standard by using geothermal heating. Certified passive buildings are exempt. Exemptions also apply if it is not “reasonably practicable” to install an acceptable heater – this would involve substantial building work, damage to the property or risks to a contractor’s health and safety.
Insulation
Ceilings and underfloors must be insulated, to a level set according to the zone the home is in. For zones 1 and 2 (most of the North Island), Pink Batts in the ceiling would have to be 160mm thick and 100mm thick under the floor. In zone 3, covering the colder areas of the South Island and central North Island, the Pink Batts in the ceiling would have to be 180mm thick. Foil and polystyrene insulation are acceptable too.
The insulation must be in reasonable condition, meaning no mould, dampness, rips, tears, gaps, vermin or bird nests.
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Any loopholes?
Internal ceilings and floors of multi-storey houses do not need to be insulated (ie only the ceiling connected to the roof and the bottom floor need to be insulated). Again, landlords do not need to comply if access is unsafe or not “reasonably practicable”. If the house has existing insulation that is in reasonable condition with proof that it was compliant at time of build, this is exempt too.
Ventilation
Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms must have at least one window, door or skylight that opens to the outside and can be fixed open. The size of the opening(s) must be at least 5% of the floor area of the room.
Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans or an acceptable continuous mechanical ventilation system. Extractor fans installed after 2019 must have a minimum diameter (including ducting) of 150mm in kitchens and 120mm in bathrooms.
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Any loopholes?
Landlords are not required to add opening windows to rooms that do not comply, as long as they complied when they were built.
As usual, an exemption applies if it is not “reasonably practicable” to install an extractor fan.
Moisture ingress and drainage
Rental homes must have efficient drainage for stormwater, surface water and groundwater. This must include gutters, downpipes and drains to remove water from the roof.
If the property has an enclosed subfloor (a crawl space where airflow is significantly restricted), a ground moisture barrier must be installed – usually a big polythene sheet.
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Any loopholes?
You guessed it, nothing has to be done if it’s not “reasonably practicable”.
Draught stopping
Homes should not have unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts (unless they’re intentional like a keyhole or a vent). As a rule of thumb, anything wider than 3mm, the edge of a $2 dollar coin, should be blocked. Landlords can’t use the age or condition of the house as a reason not to stop gaps or holes.
Unused open fireplaces must be closed off or their chimneys blocked. However, tenants can ask landlords to make the fireplace available for use. If it is available for use, it must be in good working order and free of any gaps.
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Any loopholes?
There are no specific exemptions for this one!
When don’t the healthy homes standards apply?
For most of the standards, nothing has to be done if it’s not “reasonably practicable”, and there are a couple more exemptions related to demolitions and renovations. If a tenancy began before July 1, 2025 and the landlord has already applied for a resource or building consent to demolish or renovate the property, they may be exempt for up to 12 months. The work must commence within that period. If the tenancy is to start after July 1, 2025, the application for building or resource consent must be done before the tenancy begins in order to qualify for an exemption of up to 12 months.
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If consents expire, landlords must comply with the healthy homes standards as soon as reasonably practicable. If the consents are not granted, they will have 120 days to comply, unless they challenge the refusal.
What happens if the standards aren’t being met?
Landlords not meeting their obligations will be in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and may be liable for exemplary damages of up to $7,200 per breach.
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If you believe your home isn’t up to the standards, the first thing a tenant may do is to ask you as landlord or your property manager to resolve specific issues and to provide a signed healthy homes standards compliance statement. If this goes nowhere, they can give you a 14-day notice to remedy. And if that fails too, they can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.
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If people are concerned about someone else’s home, they can also report serious and ongoing breaches to the Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigations Team. If they think there is a significant risk to people’s health and safety and a landlord or property manager is persistently acting outside the law, they can take direct action against the landlord.
So, as Landlord - what should you do?
Put an Expert in Your Corner with Rent Square Property Management.
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Let Rent Square handle the hard work, so you don’t have to. Our expertise will ensure that your property meet the Healthy Homes Standards, and we will support you through the process.
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Contact us today on 021 0221 3821 or email info@rentsquare.co.nz to discuss your options and receive a FREE Rental Appraisal.