Does Your Rental Property Comply with the Healthy Homes Standards?
Landlord’s in New Zealand are required to meet the Healthy Homes Standards. This ensures your tenants live in a safe, warm, and dry place. The deadline for compliance is July 1, 2025. If you’re not sure if your rental property complies then it’s time to take action to ensure your rental property meets the new regulations.
If your home doesn’t comply with the Standards, you could risk fines of up to $7,200 per breach. It can also harm your reputation, making it harder to find and keep good tenants. Understanding the five main areas of the Healthy Homes Standards is key. Each rental property will require a HHGA (Healthy Homes Guarantee Assessment) report, and improving these areas makes your property healthier for your tenants and avoids legal trouble.
If you’re unsure if your property complies we offer a healthy homes assessment. We offer an inspection and report that ensures your property meets the Healthy Homes Standards, providing you with an up-to-date compliance statement. This service provides peace of mind for new or potential investors, verifying that your property meets all the necessary Healthy Homes requirements.
Understanding the Healthy Homes Standards
As a landlord, knowing the Healthy Homes Standards is key. These standards help make homes safer and healthier for tenants. They cover insulation, heating, ventilation, moisture ingress prevention, and draught stopping measures. Meeting these standards improves your tenants’ lives and helps you avoid fines.
Healthy Homes Compliance Deadline
The last date for all rental homes in New Zealand to meet the standards is July 1, 2025. But, the deadline varies based on who owns the property:
- Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and Community Housing Providers: July 1, 2024
- Private landlords: July 1, 2025, or within 120 days of renewing or signing a new tenancy
Start planning early to meet the Healthy Homes Standards by your deadline.
Key Areas Covered by the Standards
The Healthy Homes Standards focus on five main areas:
- Heating: Homes must have heaters that keep the living room at 18°C.
- Insulation: Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet the 2008 Building Code or be upgraded.
- Ventilation: Homes need openable windows and extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Moisture ingress and drainage: Homes must have efficient drainage and ground moisture barriers.
- Draught stopping: Gaps and holes must be sealed, and unused chimneys blocked.
Improving these areas makes your rental property healthier and more comfortable. It also meets the standards.
Non-Compliance Penalties and Deadlines
Landlords who don’t meet the standards by the deadline face big penalties. These include:
| Penalty | Description |
| Fines | Up to $7,200 for each breach of the standards |
| Tenancy Tribunal Orders | Orders to make necessary improvements and pay compensation to tenants |
| Reputational Damage | Negative impact on the landlord’s reputation and future tenancies |
To avoid these penalties, focus on meeting the insulation requirements, heating standards, ventilation regulations, moisture ingress prevention, and draught stopping measures of the Healthy Homes Standards.
Ensuring Compliance with a Healthy Homes Assessment
As a landlord, being proactive is key to avoiding penalties. A Healthy Homes Assessment is essential. It checks if your property meets standards for insulation, heating, ventilation, and more. At Energy Workshop we’re here to help! We can help provide advice and information that helps you…
- Know if your property meets the standards
- Find out what areas need improvement if it doesn’t
- Gain knowledge and information about the standards
It’s also important to keep all documentation to show your home meets the Healthy Homes Standards. You should hang onto the following records
- Insulation certificates and records of installation
- Heating system specifications and maintenance records
- Ventilation system details and maintenance records
- Moisture ingress prevention measures and drainage system maintenance records
- Draught stopping measures and repair records
Good record keeping is important and Energy Workshop can help provide all necessary documentation as part of our Healthy Homes Assessment.
Avoid the last minute rush to meet the 2025 deadline. Contact Energy Workshop today to learn more.