Is your rental home insulated?
All rental homes in New Zealand must meet insulation standards.
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Landlords who do not have insulation installed in the ceiling and under the floor, where it is practicable to install it, are committing an unlawful act and may be liable for exemplary damages of up to $4,000.
Tenants who believe they are living in a rental property that does not meet the insulation requirements should talk to their landlord first. If this doesn’t solve the issue there are a number of options available, including mediation.
Visit Breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act for information on what to do next.
Insulation statements have been compulsory with new tenancy agreements since 1 July 2016. If a tenant wants to know what insulation is provided at their rental property, including where it is, what type, and the condition, they should ask their landlord.
What do landlords need to do?
1. Check whether insulation can be installed
Some exceptions to this requirement apply to certain property types. For example, these properties are either physically impossible to insulate, or would require major renovations to do so.
How to find out if an exception applies to your property
2. Assess your current insulation
You can assess your insulation by either:
- physically looking in your ceiling cavity and underfloor area
- hiring a professional to do an assessment
- checking the council building file
If you are hiring a professional, you can find insulation providers online. You should get at least three quotes before committing to a provider.
More about assessing insulation [PDF, 2.5 MB]
Checking and installing insulation safely
3. Install or top up insulation as required
Landlords must ensure ceiling and underfloor insulation is installed wherever possible. It must comply with the regulations and be safely installed. Wall insulation is not compulsory.
Meeting the requirements for compulsory insulation
How much it costs will depend on the size, shape and location of your property. As a rough guide, the average cost for a professional installer to put in both ceiling and floor insulation is about $3,400 excluding GST for a 96m2 property. You should expect to pay more than that for a larger home.
Insulation can be installed in most homes in a day. Waiting times for assessment, and for scheduling the work, will vary depending on where you are in the country, and the current demand.
For more information, including lists of certified providers, visit:
- The Insulation Association of New Zealand (external link)
- The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (external link)
4. Make sure your tenancy agreements include an insulation statement
Since 1 July 2016, all new tenancy agreements must include a separately signed insulation statement that covers what insulation the home has, where it is, what type and what condition.
Use our insulation statement template to make sure you cover all the information required under the Residential Tenancies Act. If you use our tenancy agreement template the insulation statement is included.
What if landlords don’t meet the insulation regulations?
Unless an exception applies, landlords who don’t have the required insulation installed in their rental properties are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act. They may face paying a penalty of up to $4,000, which is usually paid to the tenant.
Landlords with more than one tenancy may face separate damages for each property that doesn't comply. They will then still need to install insulation that meets the correct standard.
Any landlords who still don’t comply after paying the penalty may face further action.
What will change under the healthy homes standards?
The healthy homes standards will include new requirements for insulation, which will take effect from 1 July 2021 onwards.
Under the current requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords must ensure their rental properties have the right ceiling and underfloor insulation.
Landlords who have installed new insulation since 2016 will likely meet the healthy homes insulation standard, provided the insulation is still in a reasonable condition. This is because the minimum R-values for new insulation have not changed under the healthy homes insulation standard.
However, landlords who didn’t previously need to insulate under the current requirements, may now need to do so under the healthy homes standards. Currently, if the property already has ceiling insulation which is at least 70mm thick and underfloor insulation, and both are in good condition, then landlords have not been required to take action.
What are the benefits of insulating?
Insulation keeps your rental property warm and dry, making it easier and more efficient for tenants to heat. Warm and dry rental homes help tenants avoid illnesses and may mean they are more likely to stay longer.
It's also good business practice to protect your investment, by keeping your property in good condition.
Related tools and downloads
Renting and You - a guide for landlords and tenants (English translation) [PDF, 2.6 MB]
Online tool: Do you need to upgrade your insulation to meet the healthy homes standards?
