From 1 July 2019

• Ceiling and underfloor insulation is compulsory in all rental homes where it is reasonably practicable to install.
• Landlords must sign a statement of intent to comply with the healthy homes standards in any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement.
• This statement is in addition to the existing requirement to include a signed insulation statement with all tenancy agreements that covers what insulation the property has, where it is, and what type.
• Landlords must keep records that demonstrate compliance with any healthy homes standards that apply or will apply during the tenancy.

Required statements for tenancy agreements

Keeping records

From 1 December 2020

• Landlords must include a statement of their current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards in most new or renewed tenancy agreements.

Find out more about the compliance statement

Download the compliance statement template [PDF, 269 KB]

From 1 July 2021

• All boarding houses (except Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and Community Housing Provider boarding house tenancies) must comply with the healthy homes standards.
• Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy.

Use the compliance timeframes decision tool to find out when your rental property needs to comply  

Extended compliance timeframe for the heating standard for some properties

Some private rentals may have additional time to comply with the heating standard. This will depend on whether the property uses the new heating formula to calculate the required heating capacity for the main living room.

If all the following applies, the compliance date for the heating standard is 12 February 2023:

• It is a private tenancy (not a boarding house, a Kāinga Ora or registered Community Housing tenancy).
• The new heating formula is applicable to the rental property, and the landlord chooses to use it to calculate the minimum required heating capacity.
• The end of the compliance timeframe is on or after 12 May 2022 and before 12 February, 2023.

Find out if your property meets the criteria for the new heating formula

Use the compliance timeframes decision tool to find out when your rental property needs to comply

From 1 July 2024

• All Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) houses and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the healthy homes standards.

From 1 July 2025

• All private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards.

Find out what you need to do to comply(external link) 

Read about the difference between new, renewed and varied tenancy agreements

If your rental doesn't comply by its deadline

If you’re a tenant and your rental does not meet the healthy homes standards by its deadline, talk to your landlord. There may be reasons outside of their control as to why they haven’t been able to meet the deadline for a particular standard, for example supply issues. If you reach an agreement, write down what you’ve agreed, then sign and date it.

If you can’t come to an agreement on how to sort out the problem, you can consider issuing a notice to remedy. This gives the landlord a fixed period of time to get the work done. The fixed period of time must be reasonable (not less than 14 days). If the landlord does not fix the problem within the time allowed, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to sort the matter out.

Our page about breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act has more information about serving a notice to remedy.

Breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 

Landlords that don’t meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. They may be liable for exemplary damages of up to $7,200.

How to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal