The Healthy Homes Standards, introduced under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, set specific and detailed requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. As a landlord, understanding and meeting these standards isn't optional — and getting it wrong can be costly. Here's what you need to know.

The five standards, at a glance

  • Heating — a fixed heater capable of achieving at least 18°C in the main living room.

  • Insulation — ceiling and underfloor insulation meeting the current thickness requirements (a Healthy Homes compliance statement must confirm this).

  • Ventilation — windows that open in habitable rooms, plus extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms where needed.

  • Moisture and drainage — effective drainage for the property, and ground moisture barriers in enclosed subfloor spaces.

  • Draught stopping — unreasonable gaps and unused chimneys or fireplaces sealed.

What compliance actually looks like

Every residential tenancy agreement must include a signed Healthy Homes compliance statement, confirming the current state of compliance and any timeframe for outstanding work. This isn't a box-ticking exercise — Tenancy Services and the Tenancy Tribunal can and do investigate non-compliance, and penalties can be significant.

Common gaps we see

  • Underfloor insulation that was compliant historically but doesn't meet the current thickness standard.

  • Extractor fans missing or non-functional in bathrooms without opening windows.

  • Ground moisture barriers absent in older villas and bungalows with enclosed subfloors — very common across our region's older housing stock.

How we help our managed landlords

Every property under our management goes through a documented Healthy Homes assessment as part of onboarding, with a clear action plan for anything outstanding — so you're never caught out by a tenant complaint or an unexpected inspection.

Note: Not sure if your rental meets the standards? We offer Healthy Homes assessments for landlords across Wellington, Porirua, Kāpiti and the Hutt Valley for every property we manage.