Healthy homes standards: minimum rules for rental homes

Tenancy ServicesVerified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

The healthy homes standards are the minimum rules for rental homes in New Zealand. They cover five areas: heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. From 1 July 2025, all private rental homes must meet the standards, unless an exemption applies. The landlord is responsible for this. If your home does not meet the standards, talk to your landlord first. If that does not work, send a notice to remedy. As a last step, apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

Key facts

Deadline to comply: From 1 July 2025, all private rental homes must meet the healthy homes standards¹
Penalty for landlords who do not comply: This is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The landlord can be fined up to NZ$7,200¹
Compliance statement in the tenancy agreement: New or renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed compliance statement. If it is missing, the landlord can be fined up to NZ$500 per tenancy agreement¹
Asking for compliance information: Tenants can ask the landlord for information about compliance. The landlord must provide it within 21 days¹
Heating: The main living room must have one or more fixed heaters that heat the room directly. They must be at least 1.5 kW and meet the heating capacity the room needs³
Heaters that do not count: Open fires and unflued combustion heaters (for example, portable LPG bottle heaters) do not count. Heat pumps and electric heaters must have a thermostat. If the room needs more than 2.4 kW of heating capacity, electric heaters generally cannot be used, except heat pumps³
Insulation: There must be insulation in the ceiling and under the floor. Minimum R-values: ceiling R 2.9 in Zone 1 and Zone 2, ceiling R 3.3 in Zone 3; underfloor R 1.3. Ceiling insulation installed before 1 July 2016 must be at least 120mm thick⁴
Ventilation: Every habitable room must have at least one window, door or skylight that opens to the outside and can be fixed in the open position. The total openable area must be at least 5% of the room's floor area⁵
Kitchen and bathroom extraction: There must be an extractor fan that vents to the outside (or qualifying continuous mechanical ventilation). For fans installed after 1 July 2019: kitchen at least 150mm diameter or at least 50 litres per second; bathroom at least 120mm diameter or at least 25 litres per second⁵
Moisture ingress and drainage: There must be effective drainage, guttering and downpipes. If the space under the floor is enclosed, there must be a ground moisture barrier¹
Draught stopping: The landlord must block any unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors and doors that cause noticeable draughts¹
Landlord entry for compliance work: At least 24 hours' notice²

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Tenants living in private rental homes, and landlords of rental homes
Homes owned by Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and registered Community Housing Providers must also comply, with an earlier deadline
Boarding houses are also covered
Some homes, or some standards, can be exempt (exemption), for example where a professional installer cannot reasonably do the work

How do I do it? Steps and process

Check the compliance statement in your tenancy agreement
New or renewed tenancy agreements must include a healthy homes compliance statement signed by the landlord. It shows the home's current level of heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. If you are still looking for a place, use the official Healthy homes toolkit for tenants. It tells you what to look for and what to ask at viewings.
Check the home with the official checklist
Go through the Tenancy Services Tenant healthy homes standard checklist item by item. For example: Is there a fixed heater in the living room? Do the kitchen and bathroom have extractor fans? Can the windows open and stay open? Are there obvious draughts?
Talk to your landlord first
If something does not meet the standards, talk to your landlord. There may be a good reason, such as a supply shortage or an exemption. Write down any agreement you make, and both sign and date it.
Ask your landlord for compliance information
Landlords must keep records and documents that show the home complies. You can ask in writing to see them. The landlord must provide them within 21 days.
If you cannot agree, send a notice to remedy
You can send your landlord a notice to remedy. Give them a reasonable amount of time to finish the work.
If it is still not fixed, apply to the Tenancy Tribunal
If the landlord does not fix the problem in the time given, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

What documents do I need?

Your tenancy agreement and the healthy homes compliance statement
Photos of the problem, such as mould, draughts, or a broken extractor fan or heater
Texts and emails between you and your landlord
A copy of the notice to remedy

What should I watch out for?

Recirculating ventilation systems such as HRV and DVS, and fans that do not vent outside, do not meet the ventilation standard. The kitchen and bathroom still need extractor fans that vent to the outside.
Extractor fans installed before 1 July 2019 are fine if they vent to the outside and work properly. If they break, they must be repaired or replaced with a fan that meets the new requirements.
Heaters installed before 1 July 2019 do not need to be topped up if each heater is over 2.4 kW, is an acceptable type, and together they provide 80% of the required heating capacity.
A landlord who owns only one unit in an apartment building may be partly exempt. But if the room needs more than 2.4 kW of heating capacity, there must be at least one acceptable heater of at least 2 kW.
Tenants have responsibilities too. Keep the home reasonably clean. Tell your landlord quickly about leaks, damp, blocked downpipes and similar problems.
Simple habits to reduce damp: open doors and windows for about 15 minutes each morning; dry clothes outside when you can; use the extractor fan or open a window when showering or cooking; put lids on pots; wipe condensation off windows; leave a gap between furniture and walls.
If your landlord gives you notice to end the tenancy because you asked for repairs or for the home to meet the standards, this is a retaliatory notice. See our guide on tenant rights for details.
This page summarises public information and is not legal advice. For your situation, contact Tenancy Services.

What has changed recently?

2025-09-25
Minor technical changes to the healthy homes standards came into force. Homes that meet the healthy homes standards no longer also need to meet the Housing Improvement Regulations 1947. Rental homes that already comply are not affected.Source: tenancy.govt.nz ↗
2025-07-01
All private rental homes must meet the healthy homes standards. (The deadline for Kāinga Ora and registered Community Housing Providers was 1 July 2024. For boarding houses it was 1 July 2021.)Source: tenancy.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

My rental house is freezing in winter. Does my landlord have to provide a heater?

Yes. The main living room must have one or more fixed heaters that heat the room directly. They must be at least 1.5 kW and meet the heating capacity the room needs. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters, do not count. If there is no suitable heater, talk to your landlord first. If that does not work, send a notice to remedy.

Does a rental home need a heat pump, or is an electric heater enough?

An electric heater can be enough, but it depends on the room. If the main living room needs more than 2.4 kW of heating capacity, electric heaters generally cannot be used, except heat pumps. Heat pumps and electric heaters must have a thermostat. Any fixed heater must be at least 1.5 kW.

How do I check if my rented flat meets the healthy homes standards?

Start with the healthy homes compliance statement in your tenancy agreement. It shows the home's current level of heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. Then use the Tenancy Services Tenant healthy homes standard checklist. You can also ask your landlord in writing for compliance information. The landlord must provide it within 21 days.

My bathroom has no extractor fan and there is mould. Can I ask my landlord to install one?

Yes. The bathroom must have an extractor fan that vents to the outside, or qualifying continuous mechanical ventilation. A bathroom fan installed after 1 July 2019 must be at least 120mm in diameter or at least 25 litres per second. Talk to your landlord first. If that does not work, send a notice to remedy. As a last step, apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

My house has an HRV system. Does that meet the ventilation standard?

No. Recirculating ventilation systems such as HRV and DVS do not meet the ventilation standard. The kitchen and bathroom still need extractor fans that vent to the outside. Every habitable room also needs a window, door or skylight that opens to the outside and can be fixed open.

What is the fine for a landlord who does not meet the healthy homes standards?

A landlord can be fined up to NZ$7,200. Not meeting the standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. If a new or renewed tenancy agreement does not include a signed compliance statement, the landlord can also be fined up to NZ$500 per tenancy agreement.

Does my landlord need to give notice before coming in to install insulation?

Yes. Your landlord must give you at least 24 hours' notice before entering to do work needed to meet the healthy homes standards. This includes installing insulation. For questions about your own situation, contact Tenancy Services.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Healthy homes complianceTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
Healthy homes standards – what a tenant needs to knowTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
Heating standardTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
Insulation standardTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
Ventilation standardTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz

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