Healthy Homes Inspection NZ: What Happens During an Assessment?
A healthy homes inspection in New Zealand is a professional assessment of a rental property against each of the five Healthy Homes Standards. Whether you are a landlord wanting to confirm your property is compliant, a property manager preparing for a new tenancy, or a tenant wanting to understand your rights, this article explains exactly what happens during a healthy homes inspection from start to finish.
SK Homes NZ Limited conducts professional healthy homes inspections across Auckland, Hamilton, and Palmerston North. This guide is based on our real assessment process and the requirements of the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019.
What Is a Healthy Homes Inspection?
A healthy homes inspection is a visual, non-invasive assessment of a rental property carried out by a qualified assessor. The assessor checks each of the five Healthy Homes Standards, heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping, and produces a written report documenting current compliance and any required remedial work.
Unlike a building inspection, which covers the overall structural and physical condition of a property, a healthy homes inspection is specifically focused on whether the property meets the legal standards required under New Zealand tenancy law.
Who Should Book a Healthy Homes Inspection?
A healthy homes inspection is most commonly booked by:
- Landlords who want to confirm their property meets all five standards before completing a compliance statement
- Property managers who are preparing a property for a new or renewed tenancy
- Landlords who have received a notice of breach from the Tenancy Tribunal and need documented evidence of their compliance efforts
- Property investors who are purchasing a rental property and want to understand what work may be needed to bring it into compliance
- Tenants who believe their property may not meet the standards (in some cases)
What Happens Before the Inspection?
When you book a healthy homes inspection with SK Homes, we will ask you for some basic information about the property beforehand:
- The property address and type (house, unit, apartment, etc.)
- The approximate floor area of the main living room
- Whether the property has a suspended timber floor or a concrete slab
- Whether there is access to the subfloor
- Any known issues or recent work done to the property
This information helps our assessor prepare and ensures the inspection covers all relevant areas efficiently.
What Happens During the Healthy Homes Inspection?
Step 1: Introduction and Property Overview
When our assessor arrives at the property, they will introduce themselves and briefly explain the inspection process. They will walk through the property to get an overview of its layout before starting the formal assessment.
Step 2: Heating Standard Assessment
The assessor will measure the main living room and use the MBIE heating assessment tool to calculate the required heater capacity in kilowatts. They will then identify and assess any fixed heaters in the main living room, checking their type, condition, and capacity. Unflued gas heaters and portable heaters will be noted as non-qualifying.
Step 3: Insulation Assessment
The assessor will inspect the ceiling insulation by accessing the roof space (where safe and practicable) and checking the type, condition, depth, and estimated R-value of the insulation. They will also inspect underfloor insulation where subfloor access exists. Any areas of missing, damaged, or insufficient insulation will be noted.
Step 4: Ventilation Assessment
The assessor will check all kitchens and bathrooms for extractor fans, confirming that they are present, functioning, and venting to the outside. They will also check all habitable rooms for openable windows and measure or estimate the openable area as a percentage of floor area.
Step 5: Moisture Ingress and Drainage Assessment
The assessor will check the property’s gutters, downpipes, and drainage systems. They will also inspect the subfloor (where accessible) for moisture issues and check whether a ground moisture barrier is present and in good condition.
Step 6: Draught Stopping Assessment
The assessor will walk through the property checking for unreasonable draughts around doors, windows, fireplaces, floors, and ceilings. Any significant draught sources will be noted and recommendations made.
How Long Does a Healthy Homes Inspection Take?
A typical healthy homes inspection takes between 60 and 90 minutes for a standard residential property. Larger properties, or those with difficult access (such as steep roofs or restricted subfloor access), may take longer. The property should ideally be empty or have minimal furniture to allow the assessor full access to all areas.
What Does the Healthy Homes Inspection Report Include?
After the inspection, SK Homes provides a detailed written report that includes:
- The current compliance status for each of the five Healthy Homes Standards
- Specific findings for each standard, including measurements where relevant
- Photographs of key areas and any issues found
- Clear recommendations for any remedial work required
- Estimated timeframes for remedial work
- A summary compliance statement that can be used as the basis for your tenancy agreement compliance statement
What Happens After the Inspection?
If the property complies with all five standards, you can complete your healthy homes compliance statement with confidence and include it in your tenancy agreement.
If the property does not comply with one or more standards, the report will tell you exactly what needs to be done. SK Homes can provide guidance on qualified tradespeople for remedial work such as insulation installation, heat pump supply and installation, extractor fan installation, and draught stopping.
Frequently Asked Questions: Healthy Homes Inspection NZ
Is a healthy homes inspection required by law?
No. A professional inspection is not legally required, landlords can complete their own compliance assessment. However, a professional inspection provides documented evidence of compliance and reduces the risk of penalties for a false compliance statement.
How much does a healthy homes inspection cost in NZ?
Healthy homes inspection costs vary depending on the assessor and location. Contact SK Homes for current pricing for Auckland, Hamilton, and Palmerston North assessments.
Do I need to be present during the inspection?
Ideally, the landlord or property manager should be present to provide access and answer any questions. A tenant can also provide access if this is arranged in advance with appropriate notice.
Can a healthy homes inspection be done at the same time as a building inspection?
Yes. Some inspection companies offer combined pre-purchase building inspection and healthy homes assessments. SK Homes can discuss this option with you.
How current does a healthy homes inspection need to be?
There is no legal expiry date for a healthy homes inspection. However, a compliance statement must accurately reflect the current state of the property at the time it is provided, so an inspection that is more than 12 months old may not be reliable if significant changes have been made to the property.
Can a tenant request a healthy homes inspection?
Tenants can request that their landlord arrange a healthy homes assessment if they believe the property does not comply. If a landlord refuses, tenants can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for an investigation.
What qualifications does a healthy homes assessor need?
There is currently no specific licensing requirement for healthy homes assessors in New Zealand. However, assessors should have relevant training and experience, and ideally be members of a recognised industry body such as BOINZ (Building Officials Institute of New Zealand).
What is the difference between a healthy homes inspection and a building inspection?
A healthy homes inspection specifically assesses compliance with the five Healthy Homes Standards. A building inspection covers the overall structural and physical condition of a property. Both are important but serve different purposes.
Does a healthy homes inspection cover mould and dampness?
A healthy homes inspection will identify conditions that contribute to mould and dampness, such as inadequate ventilation, moisture ingress, and draught issues. However, it is not a specialist mould assessment.
How do I book a healthy homes inspection with SK Homes?
Contact SK Homes NZ Limited at info@skhomes.co.nz or call +64 290 4504 642 to book a healthy homes inspection in Auckland, Hamilton, or Palmerston North.