Healthy homes standards
All private rental properties in New Zealand must meet healthy homes standards( HHS) by 1 July 2025. These minimum standards aim to ensure warmer, drier, and healthier homes for tenants while helping landlords protect their investment and reduce maintenance costs over time.
The standards cover five key areas, each of which contributes to a home that is more comfortable, healthier, and easier to maintain.
HEATING The main living room must have one or more fixed heaters capable of reaching the required minimum heating capacity. Only certain types of heaters qualify; portable heaters, for example, are not compliant.
INSULATION Existing insulation may need to be topped up or replaced with particular emphasis on minimum standards for ceiling and underfloor insulation, which may vary depending on the region.
VENTILATION Living rooms, dining areas, kitchens and bedrooms must have openable windows or doors, with a total opening area equal to at least five percent of the room’ s floor space. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans that ventilate to the outside.
MOISTURE INGRESS AND DRAINAGE Properties must have effective drainage systems, including gutters, downpipes and drains. A sound moisture barrier is required under enclosed subfloors where practicable.
DRAUGHT STOPPING Any unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts must be blocked. Open fireplaces must be sealed unless agreed otherwise with the tenant.
EXEMPTIONS
There are both specific and general exemptions that may apply to a rental property, including:
DEMOLITION OR MAJOR REBUILD( WITH CONSENT)
If the property is due to be demolished or significantly rebuilt and the required building consents have been obtained, a HHS exemption remains in place until the work begins or the tenancy ends.
FORMER OWNER AS TENANT( WITHIN 12 MONTHS)
If the current tenant was the previous owner of the property and the tenancy began immediately after the sale, the property is exempt for 12 months from the start of the tenancy. After that, all HHS requirements must be met.
ACCESS OR OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS
If the landlord cannot meet a standard due to legal restrictions- such as shared ownership, body corporate rules, or limited access to certain parts of the property- an exemption may apply. Landlords must provide evidence and reassess this annually.
20 LANDLORD INFORMATION GUIDE