Healthy Homes Standards Checklist NZ: Full Compliance Requirements for Landlords
The final compliance deadline for the Healthy Homes Standards passed on 1 July 2025. All private rental properties in New Zealand were required to meet every standard from that date. There are no remaining grace periods.
Non-compliance is now a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act, carrying fines of up to $7,200 per breach. Landlords are also legally required to attach a detailed compliance statement to every new or renewed tenancy agreement.
This is the complete checklist of what each standard requires — and what investors buying existing rental properties need to factor into their due diligence.
Standard 1: Heating
This is the standard that catches the most landlords, and the one that requires the most significant upfront investment when upgrading older stock.
The requirement: A fixed heating device capable of achieving and maintaining a sustained temperature of 18°C in the main living room. This is the WHO-recommended minimum safe indoor temperature for health.
Key compliance points:
- The device must be fixed — portable heaters do not satisfy the standard
- The heat pump, flued gas heater, wood burner, or pellet fire must be sized to heat the entire main living area, calculated using the room dimensions and thermal properties of the building
- Heat output requirements are calculated using a formula published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, based on floor area, ceiling height, climate zone, and insulation level
- An undersized heat pump that nominally heats a room is not compliant if the MHD calculation shows higher output is required
- Fireplaces that are open (no insert) do not comply. Enclosed combustion appliances (compliant wood burners) may comply but must meet specific emissions standards
For investors buying existing rentals: Always confirm the existing heating device has a compliance certificate or, where none exists, obtain an independent assessment of whether it meets the output requirements for the specific room dimensions. A new heat pump installation typically costs $2,500–$5,000 including installation. Factor this into your acquisition pricing if the current heating is non-compliant.
Standard 2: Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet specific R-value thresholds based on the 2008 Building Code standards. The requirements vary by climate zone (NZ is divided into three zones from north to south, with Zone 3 covering the coldest southern regions).
Ceiling insulation: Must be present and have a minimum R-value (typically R2.9 in Zone 1, R3.3 in Zone 2, R3.3–R6.6 in Zone 3). New insulation installed must meet the current standards; existing insulation that has been in place since before July 2019 may meet a lower threshold if it was in reasonable condition and serviceable.
Underfloor insulation: Required in homes with a suspended timber floor and accessible subfloor space. Must meet minimum R-value requirements (R1.3 in Zones 1 and 2, R1.3 in Zone 3). Concrete slab floors do not require underfloor insulation.
What to check during due diligence:
- Is there ceiling insulation, and what is its depth and condition?
- Does the property have a suspended timber floor requiring underfloor insulation?
- Has the insulation been disturbed by pest control or plumbing/electrical work in the subfloor?
- Are there any areas of the ceiling not covered (common around light fittings or in attic storage areas)?
Standard 3: Ventilation
Fixed, externally venting mechanical extraction fans are required in:
- All kitchens: Must be directly ducted to the outside, not recirculating. Capacity requirements apply based on the kitchen size.
- All bathrooms: Including any room with a toilet or shower, whether or not a window is present.
The fans must be hardwired (connected to a light switch is acceptable if the fan activates when the light is on). Portable or battery-operated fans do not meet the standard.
Additional ventilation requirements cover openable windows: habitable rooms must have windows with an openable area of at least 5% of the floor area of the room. This is typically already met in any conventionally built home.
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Standard 4: Moisture and Drainage
Two distinct requirements sit under this standard:
Drainage: The property must have efficient drainage for stormwater, surface water, and groundwater. Where drainage problems exist (standing water after rain, water pooling against foundations), they must be addressed.
Ground moisture barrier: Enclosed subfloor spaces must have a ground moisture barrier — a polythene sheet covering the exposed earth — to prevent ground moisture rising into the floor structure. This is one of the more commonly overlooked requirements, particularly in older homes with exposed subfloor earth.
The ground moisture barrier requirement is assessed visually at inspection. If there is no barrier, installation typically costs $500–$1,500 for a standard residential subfloor. Budget for this when purchasing properties built before the 1990s where the original construction may not have included a barrier.
Standard 5: Draught Stopping
Landlords must block unreasonable gaps or holes in:
- Walls and ceilings (including around pipes, cables, and wiring penetrations)
- Windows and skylights (draughts around frames, not normal ventilation gaps)
- Floors
- Doors
"Unreasonable" is the operative word. Normal ventilation gaps — gaps in vented roofs, intentional drainage openings — do not need to be stopped. The target is unintended air infiltration that creates cold draughts and increases heating costs.
Open fireplaces that are no longer used are a common compliance issue. An open fireplace with no insert is an extremely effective draught source when not in use. A removable fireboard or fitted flue cap satisfies the draught stopping requirement for unused fireplaces.
The Compliance Statement Requirement
Every new tenancy agreement, and every renewal, must now include a Healthy Homes Standards compliance statement. This is a written statement that details:
- The current level of compliance with each of the five standards
- If any standard is not yet met, the date by which it will be achieved
Since 1 July 2025, private landlords must be fully compliant before signing any new or renewed tenancy agreement. The compliance statement must accurately reflect this. Attaching a compliance statement that contains false information is itself a breach of the RTA.
Tenancy Services provides a template compliance statement that landlords can use or adapt.
What Non-Compliance Actually Costs
Fines of up to $7,200 per breach can be ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal. In practice, Tribunal orders vary significantly depending on the nature of the breach, whether it caused harm, and whether the landlord has made genuine efforts to remediate. However, the maximum is real and has been applied.
Investors purchasing existing rentals should also consider reputational risk: a property on the market with a documented compliance history of Tribunal orders is substantially harder to finance and insure.
Building This Into Your Acquisition Analysis
For investment property purchasers, the Healthy Homes Standards create a clear due diligence checklist before going unconditional:
- Has the current landlord provided a compliance statement? What does it say?
- Does the property have a qualifying fixed heating device sized for the main living area?
- Is ceiling and underfloor insulation present and meeting the minimum R-value requirements?
- Are externally venting fans installed in all kitchens and bathrooms?
- Is there a ground moisture barrier in the subfloor?
- Are obvious draught sources addressed?
Any compliance gap is a cost you will need to fund after settlement. A heat pump, insulation upgrade, and extraction fans can collectively cost $8,000–$15,000 for a poorly equipped older property. Factor this into your offer price accordingly.
Healthy Homes compliance, tenancy management obligations, and the full suite of landlord responsibilities are covered in the New Zealand Investment Property Guide.
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