Healthy Homes Standards

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The Healthy Homes Standards are five minimum legal requirements that every private residential rental in New Zealand must meet, covering heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. Since 1 July 2025, compliance is required at all times, regardless of when the tenancy began.

Why it matters

The phased timeline is over. There is no longer a 90-day or 120-day grace period from the start of a new or renewed tenancy. If a property does not comply today, it is in breach — not a work in progress.

Penalties can reach $7,200 per breach, and MBIE has been running proactive investigations rather than only responding to complaints.

The five standards

1. Heating — a fixed heater in the main living room capable of reaching 18°C, with minimum capacity requirements
2. Insulation — ceiling and underfloor insulation meeting the standard, which may exceed the older 2019 minimum
3. Ventilation — openable windows or doors in each liveable space, plus extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms
4. Moisture ingress and drainage — efficient guttering, downpipes and drainage; a ground moisture barrier where there is an enclosed subfloor
5. Draught stopping — gaps and holes causing noticeable draughts must be blocked

Common misunderstanding

Compliance is not a one-time event. Properties assessed as compliant years ago have since failed inspections as heaters fail, ventilation degrades, or wear opens new draught paths. It needs re-checking, not filing away.

Landlords must also include a compliance statement in tenancy agreements.

Related terms

Sources

• Tenancy Services — Healthy homes standards: tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/
• Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019
• HUD — Healthy homes standards

Last reviewed: 1 August 2026 · General information only, not legal advice.

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