Draught Stopping Requirements for NZ Rentals: What Landlords Must Do
Draught stopping is the fifth and most straightforward of the Healthy Homes Standards. It requires landlords to block unreasonable gaps and holes in the building fabric that allow cold air to enter. While it sounds simple, many older NZ homes have significant draught issues around doors, windows, and services penetrations.
What the Standard Requires
Regulation 10 of the Healthy Homes Standards requires that a rental property must not have any unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, floors, or windows that allow draughts. This includes:
- Gaps around windows and doors (particularly around sash windows and older door frames)
- Holes or gaps around pipes, cables, or other services penetrating walls or floors
- Open or unused fireplaces that are not adequately sealed
- Gaps in the building structure (e.g., around skirting boards or in the subfloor)
The word "unreasonable" matters here. Some air infiltration is normal and actually beneficial — buildings need some fresh air exchange. The standard is about eliminating excessive draughts, not making the building airtight.
What Is an "Unreasonable" Draught?
MBIE defines an unreasonable draught as a gap or hole that a reasonable person would expect to be fixed. Practical indicators include:
- You can feel a cold draught with your hand near the gap on a cold day
- The gap is large enough to see daylight through
- Gaps that are not there for any functional purpose (i.e., not intentional ventilation)
Open fireplaces that draw cold air down the chimney are a particularly common issue in NZ. If the fireplace is not in use and has no functional heater, it should be sealed to prevent draughts.
How to Fix Draught Issues
Common fixes are low-cost and easily DIY:
- Door and window gaps: Weatherstripping foam tape or rubber door seals. Most hardware stores stock these. Cost: $10-30 per door or window.
- Service penetrations: Expanding foam sealant or silicone sealant around pipes and cables. Cost: $15-25 per can of foam.
- Open fireplace: Fireplace balloon (inflatable block) or a timber board + insulation sealed into the firebox opening. Cost: $40-80 for a balloon.
- Skirting board gaps: Caulking along the bottom of skirting boards. Cost: $10-20 per tube of flexible sealant.
Most draught stopping work is very cheap — often $100-200 for a whole property. It is the lowest-cost Healthy Homes standard to meet.
Compliance Deadline
All private rental properties must have met all 5 Healthy Homes standards (including draught stopping) by 1 July 2025.
How to Assess Your Property
Walk around the property on a cold windy day and run your hand near:
- All window frames and the edges of sashes
- Door frames and door bottoms
- Where walls meet floors (skirting boards)
- Around any penetrations in walls (pipes, cables, power points on exterior walls)
- The fireplace opening if there is one
Photograph any gaps you find. Fix them, then photograph after. This documents that you have assessed and remediated the issue.
All 5 Healthy Homes Standards: Summary
With draught stopping, we have now covered all 5:
- Heating: Fixed heater in the main living room capable of reaching 18°C
- Insulation: Minimum R-values for ceiling (R2.9 north / R3.3 south) and underfloor (R1.3)
- Ventilation: Extractor fans in kitchen and bathroom; 5% openable window in all habitable rooms
- Moisture and drainage: Effective drainage, no moisture ingress, subfloor vapour barrier where accessible
- Draught stopping: No unreasonable gaps or holes causing draughts
All 5 must be met by 1 July 2025 for private rentals. If any are missing, you are currently in breach. The good news: draught stopping and ventilation are typically the cheapest to fix.
Tracking all 5 compliance items across multiple properties is easier with RentManager, where you can record compliance status per property and keep notes on when each item was addressed.