Is your rental home insulated?

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Ceiling and underfloor insulation will be compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019.

Landlords who don’t comply with the regulations will be committing an unlawful act and may be liable for a penalty of up to $4,000.

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 install ceiling and underfloor insulation, 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. With the deadline in July 2019, insulation installers may book out quickly.

For more information, including lists of certified providers, visit:

4. Make sure your tenancy agreements include an insulation statement

All new tenancy agreements must include a separately signed insulation statement that covers what insulation the home has, where it is, and what type.

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.

Insulation statement template [PDF, 490 KB]

Tenancy agreement template [PDF, 1.4 MB]

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 by July 2019 will be in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act. They may face paying a penalty of up to $4,000, which are 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.

Meeting the requirements for compulsory insulation

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 make them 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]

Insulation and rentals – What landlords need to know video

Watch this video to find out how to ensure your ceiling and underfloor insulation complies with the requirements.

From the 1st of July 2019 ceiling and underfloor insulation will be compulsory in all rental homes where reasonably practicable. You might think the insulation in your rental property complies with the Residential Tenancy Act regulations but it may not.

Let's start with the ceiling.

If you can do it safely, get a ladder and check your roof space to see if you have insulation.

If you have no insulation at all, you will need to install new insulation that complies with the regulations. If your insulation is less than 70 millimetres thick, you will need to top up with new insulation that complies with the regulations. If you're unsure, talk to an insulation installer.

If your insulation is thicker than 70 millimetres, you don't need to do anything, provided the insulation is in reasonable condition. But if your insulation is below 120 millimetres, we recommend topping it up anyway.

Reasonable condition means no missing areas, no gaps except around down lights and other heat sources, and no defects. If you have missing areas, gaps or defects you need to bring the insulation up to standard to comply with the regulations.

Now the underfloor.

If you have no insulation at all, you will need to install new insulation to comply with the new regulations.

If you already have underfloor insulation it also needs to be in reasonable condition.

Again, this means no missing areas, no gaps, and no defects.

Insulation that's damaged will need to be repaired or replaced with new underfloor insulation.

If you have foil insulation, this is adequate as long as the top surface is still shiny and there are no rips, gaps or damage. There is a risk of electrocution with foil.

Turn the power off before touching it.

We highly recommend hiring a professional to remove foil.

Damaged foil must not be repaired, it must be replaced with another insulation product. There are some exceptions to these rules these include houses without a roof or subfloor space, and houses with inadequate height in the ceiling or subfloor space.

Talk to an insulation installer to find out if an exception applies or if you have any doubts or questions about your insulation. They understand the rules and regulations and can check and confirm your property complies.

If you do need insulation, check if your rental property is eligible for a 50% subsidy. Find out more about tenancy law at tenancy.govt.nz

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