The healthy homes standards, which became law on 1 July 2019, set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. These standards are designed to help tenants keep their homes warm and dry, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and long-term cost savings in property maintenance.
Why the Healthy Homes Standards are Important
With more than 600,000 households renting in New Zealand, research indicates that rental properties are generally of poorer quality compared to owner-occupied homes. There is a significant link between cold, damp, and mouldy homes and poor health, particularly concerning conditions like asthma and cardiovascular diseases. By improving the quality of rental homes, the healthy homes standards aim to enhance the health and well-being of tenants, reduce medical costs, and lower hospitalisation rates. Additionally, warmer and drier homes are less prone to mould and mildew, protecting landlords’ investments.
The Healthy Homes Toolkit for Landlords
If you need assistance in meeting the standards, there is a healthy homes standards toolkit for landlords can be invaluable. This toolkit includes a detailed guide about the standards and easy-to-use checklists to help you get up to standard and maintain compliance over time.
When You Need to Meet the Standards
All rental properties must comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025. However, compliance deadlines may vary based on the type of tenancy and the timing of new or renewed tenancies. It’s possible that some properties should already be compliant. Use our decision tool to determine the specific compliance date for your property. Once you meet the standards, you’ll need to maintain them to ensure ongoing compliance.
What Are the Healthy Homes Standards?
Heating
Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters capable of directly heating the main living room. These heaters must be of an acceptable type and meet the minimum heating capacity required for the space. The aim is to ensure that the living room can be adequately heated, contributing to a warm and healthy home environment.
Insulation
Since 1 July 2019, ceiling and underfloor insulation has been mandatory in all rental homes. The healthy homes insulation standard builds on this, requiring some existing insulation to be topped up or replaced.
Providing ceiling and underfloor Insulation is a requirement landlords need to meet. The standards state the that the minimum R-Value for Ceiling Insulation is 2.9 in the North Island and 3.3 in the South Island while the minimum R-Value for underfloor Insulation is 1.3 across all of New Zealand.
Ventilation
Each habitable space must have a window or door that opens to the outside and can be fixed in the open position. Additionally, kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans to remove moisture. Good ventilation helps reduce moisture levels, making the home easier to heat and keeping tenants healthy.
Moisture Ingress and Drainage
Rental properties must have efficient drainage, guttering, and downpipes to remove stormwater, surface water, and groundwater. In properties with enclosed sub-floors, a ground moisture barrier is required to prevent moisture from entering the living spaces.
Draught Stopping
Landlords must block any unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors that cause noticeable draughts. Open fireplaces must also be blocked unless otherwise agreed upon by the tenant and landlord.
Compliance Deadlines and Consequences of Non-Compliance
Landlords who fail to meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and may face financial penalties. There are some specific exemptions to these standards, and general exemptions may apply to certain rental homes. More information on exemptions can be found on the Tenancy Services website.
All rental properties must meet the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025. Ensure your property is compliant by the required deadlines based on tenancy types and renewal dates. Maintaining compliance is crucial for the health and well-being of your tenants and the protection of your property investment.
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