Healthy homes standards
The healthy homes standards aim to make a significant change to the quality of New Zealand rental homes. The standards cover improvements to heating, insulation, and ventilation, and addressing issues with moisture ingress and drainage and draught stopping.
About the standards
Ensuring everyone has a warm and dry rental home is a priority to improving the wellbeing of New Zealanders and their families. Nearly 600,000 households rent in New Zealand and research tells us that NZ’s rental housing is of poorer quality than owner-occupied homes.
Read the healthy homes standards questions and answers
The healthy homes standards
| Standard | Required standard |
|---|---|
| Heating | There must be fixed heating devices, capable of achieving a minimum temperature of at least 18°C in the living room only. Some heating devices are inefficient, unaffordable or unhealthy and will not meet the requirements under the heating standard. |
| Insulation | The minimum level of ceiling and underfloor insulation must either meet the 2008 Building Code, or (for existing ceiling insulation) have a minimum thickness of 120mm. |
| Ventilation | Ventilation must include openable windows in the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms. Also an appropriately sized extractor fan(s) in rooms with a bath or shower or indoor cooktop. |
| Moisture ingress and drainage | Landlords must ensure efficient drainage and guttering, downpipes and drains. If a rental property has an enclosed subfloor, it must have a ground moisture barrier if it’s possible to install one. |
| Draught stopping | Landlords must stop any unnecessary gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors that cause noticeable draughts. All unused chimneys and fireplaces must be blocked. |
| Compliance timeframes | 1 July 2021 – From this date, private landlords must ensure that their rental properties comply with HHS within 90 days of any new tenancy.1 July 2021 – All boarding houses must comply with the HHS.
1 July 2023 – All Housing New Zealand and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the HHS. 1 July 2024 – All rental homes must comply with the HHS |
