Healthy homes standards – what a landlord needs to know
Information about the healthy homes standards for landlords.
Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties of up to $7200.
Landlords who are not sure where to start, read our healthy homes toolkit for landlords.
About the standards
The healthy homes standards are the minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. All rental properties must comply with the healthy homes standards unless an exemption applies.
Landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties meet the standards and continue to over time. These standards help tenants keep their homes warm and dry and help landlords achieve cost savings in the long-term maintenance of their property.
Keeping your property up to standard
Healthy homes standards toolkit for landlords
Why the standards are important
More than 600,000 households rent in New Zealand, and research shows rental properties are poorer quality than owner-occupied homes.
Research also shows a link between cold, damp and mouldy homes and poorer health.
By improving the quality of rental homes, New Zealanders who rent will experience improved health, as well as lower medical costs. Warmer and drier homes are also less likely to have issues with mould or mildew damage, better protecting a landlord’s investment.
What are the standards?
Heating
Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room. The heater(s) must be acceptable types and must meet the minimum heating capacity required for your main living room.
Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. The healthy homes insulation standard builds on the current regulations and some existing insulation will need to be topped up or replaced.
Ventilation
Each liveable space must have a window or door that opens to the outside and can be fixed in the open position. Kitchens and bathrooms must also have an extractor fan to remove moisture.
Moisture ingress and drainage
A rental property must have efficient drainage, guttering and downpipes for the removal of stormwater, surface water and ground water.
Where there is an enclosed sub-floor, a ground moisture barrier is required.
Moisture ingress and drainage standard
Draught stopping
Landlords must block any unreasonable gaps or holes, in walls, ceilings, windows, floors and doors, that cause noticeable draughts.
When the standards do not apply
In some situations, a property is not required to meet the healthy homes standards or parts of the standards. This is called an exemption.
Exemptions to the healthy homes standards
What happens if a property does not meet the standards
Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties.
Landlords who are yet to bring their property up to standard but are not sure where to start, read our healthy homes toolkit for landlords.
What to include in the tenancy agreement
New, renewed or varied tenancy agreements must include a signed statement with details of the property’s current level of compliance with the standards. We have a template you can use for this.
Landlords who do not include this statement when required could face a financial penalty of up to $500 for each tenancy, or other enforcement action.
What records you need to keep
Landlords must keep all records and documents that show how they are complying with the healthy homes standards.
Tenants can request information about compliance with the healthy homes standards. Landlords must provide this information to tenants within 21 days.
Last updated: 01 July 2025
