Jan 01, 1970
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Landlords and Tenants: What you need to know about the Healthy Home compliance deadline 2025. 

The final deadline for residential rental properties to comply with New Zealand’s Healthy Homes Standards is fast approaching. By 1 July 2025, all private rental homes must meet these standards. Landlords have had several years to prepare, and we expect strict penalties — up to $7,200 per breach — for those who fail to meet their legal obligations.

This blog post provides a refresher on what’s required under the Healthy Homes legislation, what’s not covered, and how iRentProperty supports our clients in achieving full compliance and avoiding penalties.

What are the healthy home standards?

There are 5 minimum standards that residential rental properties must meet by 1 July 2025 to be meet Landlord obligations. These are:

•           Insulation – Ceiling and underfloor insulation of a particular standards is compulsory where an exemption does not exist
•           Heating – There must be a fixed heater in the man living area that can maintain a temperature of at least 18C.
•           Moisture egress and drainage – Rental properties must have adequate drainage and guttering to prevent water pooling in, around or under the property.
•           Draught stopping – The property should not have any gaps that cause draughts such as under doors or around window joinery.
•           Ventilation – There must be sufficient ventilation to prevent moisture build. This includes openable windows in each habitable space, and extractor fans in kitchen and bathrooms. Note, having these facilities available and having tenants use these facilities are two very different things!)

What’s NOT included in healthy home compliance?

•           Mould. The presence of mould does not mean that a home is not healthy home complaint. Mould can be caused by a variety of issues including poor hygiene, not opening windows regularly but does not necessarily mean the house doesn’t meet healthy home requirements.
•           Smoke alarms. While smoke alarms are required in rental properties, this is covered by separate legislation than Healthy Home Act.
•           Wall insulation – The Healthy Homes Act only requires ceiling and underfloor insulation, where an exemption does not exist.
•           Double glazing. We love double glazing! But it is very uncommon in rental properties and is not a requirement of the Healthy Home Act.
•           Heating in any areas other than the main living area.  It is up to the occupants to heat bedrooms and hallways.
•           HRV/DVS systems and showerdomes. Nice to have, but don’t form part of the healthy home requirements!

As a tenant, where can I find information about the compliance level of my home?

For many years, a statement of compliance has been legally required to be included in your tenancy agreement. As a first stop, read through your agreement. This being said, your home may have been uncompliant at the time you signed the agreement, and then subsequently bought up to standard. This may not be reflected in your tenancy agreement. In this case, we recommend talking to your property manager to get an updated statement.

It's also important for you to note that may tenancy agreements place an onus on you as tenants to report maintenance and suspected noncompliance so that it can be dealt with properly. As the occupant of the home, you are most likely to notice draughts and water pooling that isn’t always necessary when your property manager conducts a routine inspection. If you have any doubts, feel free to reach out!

As a Landlord, what do I need to do?

Healthy Homes compliance is ultimately the landlord’s responsibility. At iRentProperty, our role is to support you, but we need your cooperation to do this effectively.

Here’s how to ensure your property remains compliant:

Provide a third-party Healthy Homes assessment
Self-assessments are allowed, but we strongly recommend — and require — independent third-party reports. They’re more reliable, easier to interpret, and better suited for proving compliance during audits. We’ve seen many inaccurate self-assessments from well-meaning owners, so we no longer accept them.

Approve recommended maintenance
During our inspections, we look for visible signs of non-compliance like loose underfloor insulation or gaps that have developed in window joinery. We work with experienced handymen who can carry out any required work. Please note we’re not qualified or resourced to inspect ceiling cavities or roofs, but we’ll suggest further investigation if we suspect a problem.

Be receptive to feedback
We’re here to help you avoid costly penalties. If we raise concerns, it’s because we want to protect your property and ensure you meet your legal obligations.

Final thoughts

1 July 2025 is just around the corner. If you’re unsure whether your property is compliant, or if it hasn’t been checked recently, now is the time to act.

At iRentProperty, we’re committed to protecting your assets and your peace of mind. Let’s work together to get ahead of the deadline and avoid unnecessary stress or expense.

Need support? Get in touch — we’re here to help.

 

 

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