Healthy Homes Checklist.
The standards every rental must meet — and how to stay compliant with confidence.
New Zealand's Healthy Homes Standards set minimum requirements for rental properties across five areas. Every residential tenancy in New Zealand must comply. Here's what each standard actually covers.
1. Heating
The main living room needs a fixed heater capable of adequately warming the space, sized according to a set formula based on the room's size. Older, inefficient heaters (like unflued gas heaters) generally don't meet the standard on their own.
2. Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet the current Building Code thickness requirements, and must be in reasonable condition — sagging, damaged or inadequate insulation doesn't meet the standard even if it's technically present.
3. Ventilation
Every habitable room needs a window, door or similar that opens to the outside, sized appropriately. Kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans or range hoods venting outside, particularly important in Wellington's damper properties.
4. Moisture and drainage
Efficient drainage for the roof and grounds, and where a property has an enclosed subfloor, a ground moisture barrier if the space is enclosed. This matters a lot in Wellington's older housing stock, where subfloor dampness is a common issue.
5. Draught stopping
Gaps and unnecessary openings that let cold air in — and warm air out — need to be reasonably blocked. Unused fireplaces and chimneys generally need to be closed off unless being used.
What happens if a property isn't compliant
Non-compliance can lead to Tenancy Tribunal orders and financial penalties, and makes a property harder to rent well regardless — tenants increasingly ask about Healthy Homes compliance directly. Exact requirements, timeframes and any exemptions are set out at tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes, which we'd always recommend checking directly for the current detail.
How we handle it
We assess every property we manage against all five standards, arrange qualified contractors for anything that needs fixing, and keep compliance records on file — so you're never caught out at inspection or by a tenant complaint.
Not sure if your property is compliant?
We'll do a straightforward Healthy Homes assessment as part of a free consultation — no obligation.