The Healthy Homes Standards NZ: A Complete Plain-English Guide for Landlords
If you are a landlord in New Zealand, you have probably heard the term “Healthy Homes Standards” more times than you can count. But what do they actually require? This guide explains all five standards in plain English – what each one means for your rental property, what the specific requirements are, and what landlords need to do to comply.
This is not a legal document. It is a practical summary designed to help you understand what the law requires, written for landlords who want a clear answer rather than a technical one.
What Are the Healthy Homes Standards?
The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of minimum requirements for rental properties in New Zealand. They were introduced under the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019, which sit under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
The standards cover five areas of a rental property:
- Heating
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Moisture ingress and drainage
- Draught stopping
As of 1 July 2025, all private rental properties in New Zealand must comply with all five standards. Failure to comply is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and can result in financial penalties of up to $7,200 per breach.
Who Do the Standards Apply To?
The Healthy Homes Standards apply to all residential rental properties in New Zealand covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. This includes standard residential tenancies, boarding houses, and properties managed through property management companies.
Some properties may qualify for exemptions from specific parts of the standards. Exemptions can apply where it is not reasonably practicable to meet a requirement – for example, where installing underfloor insulation is impossible due to the type of floor construction. Landlords who believe an exemption applies must be able to demonstrate why and keep records of the reasons.
Holiday homes and properties rented for fewer than 28 days are generally exempt from the standards.
Standard 1: Heating
The heating standard requires landlords to provide at least one fixed heater in the main living room that can directly heat that space.
What the Heating Standard Requires
The heater must be capable of maintaining the main living area at a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius when the outdoor temperature is 0 degrees Celsius. The minimum heating capacity required is calculated based on the size and characteristics of the room using either the standard formula or, for certain modern dwellings, a simplified formula.
The free Heating Assessment Tool at tenancy.govt.nz/heating-tool/ calculates the required kilowatt output for a specific room.
Acceptable Heater Types
Not all heaters meet the standard. Acceptable heater types include:
- Heat pumps
- Fixed electric heaters (panel heaters, electric fireplaces with sufficient output)
- Wood or pellet burners that meet clean air requirements
- Flued gas heaters
- Hydronic (hot water) heating systems
Portable heaters, unflued gas heaters, and open fires do not meet the standard and cannot be used to satisfy the heating requirement.
Standard 2: Insulation
The insulation standard requires ceiling insulation and underfloor insulation in all rental properties where it is reasonably practicable to install them.
Ceiling Insulation
Ceiling insulation is required in all accessible ceiling spaces. The minimum R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) depends on the climate zone in which the property is located. New Zealand is divided into three climate zones:
- Zone 1 (Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty): minimum R-value of R2.9 for new insulation
- Zone 2 (most of the North Island south of Auckland, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast): minimum R-value of R2.9
- Zone 3 (Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Wairarapa): minimum R-value of R3.3
Existing insulation that was installed before 1 July 2019 and is in good condition may still meet the standard even if it has a lower R-value, provided it is not damaged or degraded.
Underfloor Insulation
Underfloor insulation is required for properties with suspended timber floors and accessible subfloors. The minimum R-value for underfloor insulation is R1.3 across all climate zones.
An exemption applies where it is not reasonably practicable to install underfloor insulation – for example, if the subfloor space is too small to access safely, or if the floor construction makes installation impossible.
Standard 3: Ventilation
The ventilation standard has two components: openable windows in habitable rooms, and extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
Openable Windows
Every habitable room (bedrooms, living areas, dining rooms) must have at least one window or door that opens to the outside. The openable area must be at least 1.22 percent of the floor area of the room. The window or door must be able to be fixed open.
Extractor Fans
Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans that vent to the outside (not into a roof space or wall cavity). Kitchen extractor fans must be positioned above a cooking appliance or on an adjacent wall. Bathroom extractor fans must be in rooms that contain a bath, shower, or both.
Properties with a whole-home continuous mechanical ventilation system that meets certain specifications may be exempt from the extractor fan requirements.
Standard 4: Moisture Ingress and Drainage
The moisture ingress and drainage standard requires rental properties to have efficient drainage and, where applicable, a ground moisture barrier in the subfloor.
Drainage Requirements
The property must have efficient drainage for the removal of stormwater, surface water, and ground water. Gutters, downpipes, and drains must be in working order and free of blockages. Water must not pond around or under the building after rain.
Ground Moisture Barrier
Where a property has an enclosed subfloor space, a ground moisture barrier (polythene sheet covering the ground) must be installed. The barrier must be in good condition, cover the entire ground area of the subfloor, and be properly fitted and secured.
This standard requires a physical inspection of the subfloor – it cannot be assessed remotely or through any online tool. An assessor needs to physically access the subfloor to check the condition of the moisture barrier, look for signs of pooling water, and assess the overall drainage situation.
Standard 5: Draught Stopping
The draught stopping standard requires landlords to block unreasonable gaps or holes in the building envelope that allow outside air to enter the living space and create noticeable draughts.
What Counts as an Unreasonable Draught
The standard focuses on gaps that cause “noticeable draughts.” Common areas where draughts occur in New Zealand rental properties include:
- Around window and door frames (particularly older joinery)
- At skirting boards and floor junctions
- Around ceiling light fixtures, particularly recessed downlights
- Around pipes, cables, and services entering through walls or floors
- Gaps in closed fireplaces and unused chimney flues
- Gaps in the roof space around penetrations
The standard does not require landlords to seal every gap – only those that cause noticeable draughts. However, it does require that when such draughts are identified, they are addressed with appropriate draught-stopping materials.
Like moisture ingress and drainage, draught stopping requires a physical walkthrough of the property. An assessor checks each room systematically, including checking window and door operation and looking for gaps around ceiling fixtures and skirting boards.
The Compliance Statement
All new and renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed compliance statement that sets out the property’s current level of compliance with each of the five Healthy Homes Standards. This is a legal requirement.
The compliance statement must be accurate. Signing an inaccurate compliance statement is itself a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and can result in a financial penalty of up to $500 per tenancy. Tenancy Services has a template compliance statement that landlords can use.
Landlords must keep records that support the information in their compliance statement. Tenants can request this information and landlords must provide it within 21 days.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failing to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act. The Tenancy Tribunal can order landlords to pay exemplary damages of up to $7,200 per breach. In addition, landlords may be ordered to complete the required work within a specified timeframe.
Tenancy Services also has a compliance and investigation team that can take enforcement action against landlords who are not meeting their obligations.
How to Demonstrate Compliance
Landlords can demonstrate compliance in several ways:
- Using the MBIE online tools to generate heating, ventilation, and insulation reports
- Keeping receipts and installation records for insulation, heaters, and extractor fans
- Obtaining a written compliance report from an independent professional assessor
- Keeping maintenance records showing that drainage and gutters are kept clear
- Photographs and dated inspection records showing subfloor conditions and draught-stopping measures
A written report from an independent professional assessor is the most comprehensive form of compliance evidence. It documents that someone with relevant expertise physically inspected the property and checked all five standards against the regulatory requirements.
How SK Homes NZ Can Help
At SK Homes NZ, we conduct independent Healthy Homes assessments for rental properties in Auckland, Hamilton, and Palmerston North. Our assessors cover all five standards in a single visit and produce a detailed written report that landlords can use as evidence of compliance.
We are fully independent – we do not sell insulation, heaters, or any other products. That means our findings are based solely on what we observe at your property, with no commercial incentive to recommend unnecessary work.
If you want to confirm that your rental property meets the Healthy Homes Standards and have documentation to show for it, our team is ready to help.
Phone: +64 290 4504 642
Email: info@skhomes.co.nz
Website: skhomes.co.nz
Serving landlords in Auckland, Hamilton, and Palmerston North.