The Healthy Homes Standards became law on 1 July 2019. They introduced specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties.
All private rentals must comply within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy after 1 July 2021, with all private rentals complying by 1 July 2024.
Some private rentals may have additional time to comply with the heating standard. This will depend on whether the property uses the new heating formula to calculate the required heating capacity for the main living room.
Landlords are responsible for maintaining and improving the quality of their rental properties. These standards will help ensure landlords have healthier, safer properties and lower maintenance costs for their investments.
The standards will also make it easier for tenants to keep their homes warm and dry.
The five areas of Healthy Homes assessments are:
- Heating
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Draught issues
- Moisture ingress and drainage issues
Heating
Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room. The heater(s) must be acceptable types, and must meet the minimum heating capacity required for your main living room.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18˚C. By installing heating that can reach this temperature on the coldest days of the year, tenants will be able to keep warm all year round.
Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. The Healthy Homes insulation standard builds on the current regulations and some existing insulation will need to be topped up or replaced.
Ventilation
Rental homes must have openable windows in the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans or an acceptable continuous mechanical ventilation system.
Mould and dampness caused by poor ventilation is harmful to tenants’ health as well as landlords’ property. The ventilation standard targets mould and dampness in rental homes.
Draught Issues
Landlords must make sure the property doesn’t have unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, skylights, floors and doors which cause noticeable draughts. All unused open fireplaces must be closed off or their chimneys must be blocked to prevent draughts.
Moisture Ingress and Drainage Standards
Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of stormwater, surface water, and groundwater. Rental properties with an enclosed sub-floor space must have a ground moisture barrier.
Moisture can be a large source of dampness in a home. This dampness can lead to poor health outcomes for tenants and can be destructive to the quality of a house.
Property Health – Healthy Homes Assessment
Our assessments cover:
- All NZ Healthy Homes requirements above
- Full-colour PDF for your records
- Scope of possible future proofing work within the property
- Tenancy standards heating calculation for the property
