Healthy Homes Standards NZ: Compliance Checklist (2026)
This is the checklist version. For the full explanation of each standard - what it requires, how to measure it, and what remediation costs - see the Complete Healthy Homes Standards Guide.
All private rental properties in New Zealand must comply with all five standards. The deadline was 1 July 2025. If your property is not yet compliant, you are in breach and at risk of a fine of up to $7,200 per standard.
Compliance statement required for every new tenancy
Every new or renewed tenancy agreement must include a signed Healthy Homes compliance statement. It records the current state of each standard at that property. If you change something (new heater, new insulation), update the statement before the next tenancy. Tenancy Services provides a template at tenancy.govt.nz.
1. Heating
- Fixed heater in the main living room: heat pump, electric panel heater (wall-mounted), flued wood burner in good condition, or flued gas heater permanently installed. Portable heaters and unflued gas heaters do not comply.
- Heating capacity meets the MBIE minimum kW for the room. Use the calculator at tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/heating. Inputs: floor area, ceiling height, window area, and climate zone.
- Open-plan kitchen/living: the calculation covers the combined area.
Full heating standard details and costs
2. Insulation
- Ceiling insulation: R2.9 minimum in the North Island, R3.3 in the South Island (including Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman).
- Underfloor insulation: R1.3 minimum, required only if the subfloor space is accessible (at least 400mm clearance). Concrete slabs are exempt - note this in the compliance statement.
- Keep installation invoices and product specs. R-values must be installed values, not rated values.
Full insulation standard details and costs
3. Ventilation
- Kitchen: ducted rangehood or extractor fan exhausting to outside. Recirculating (filter-only) rangehoods do not comply. Check that ducting actually exits the building and is not blocked in the roof space.
- Bathroom and toilet: extractor fan exhausting to outside, OR an openable window or skylight that opens directly to outside (not to an enclosed balcony). A fan exhausting into the roof cavity does not comply.
- Every habitable room: openable windows or doors with total area at least 5% of the room floor area. A 15m2 bedroom needs 0.75m2 of openable window. Check that windows are not painted or sealed shut.
Full ventilation standard details and costs
4. Moisture and Drainage
- Gutters clear; downpipes discharge well away from the foundation. No pooling near the house.
- No moisture entering through the roof, external walls, or subfloor. Check interior ceilings and walls for water staining.
- Suspended timber floor with accessible subfloor: polythene vapour barrier (minimum 0.25mm thick) installed across the ground, lapped at joints, and secured so it stays in place. Inspect existing barriers for tears.
Full moisture and drainage standard details
5. Draught Stopping
- No unreasonable gaps around door frames or window frames.
- No gaps around pipes, cables, or other services penetrating walls, floors, or ceilings.
- Unused fireplaces sealed (a fireplace balloon costs $40-80 and blocks chimney draughts).
- No gaps where skirting boards meet the floor, particularly in older homes.
Full draught stopping standard details and costs
Typical compliance costs at a glance
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Heat pump (supply and install) | $2,000-$3,500 |
| Ceiling insulation (top-up or new) | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Underfloor insulation | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Bathroom extractor fan (supply and install) | $150-$300 |
| Kitchen ducted rangehood upgrade | $300-$800 |
| Subfloor vapour barrier | $500-$1,500 |
| Draught stopping (whole property) | $100-$200 |
| Worst-case full compliance (older house) | $8,000-$12,000 |
Warmer Kiwi Homes grants from EECA can cover up to 80% of insulation and heating costs for eligible properties. Check eligibility at eeca.govt.nz/warmer-kiwi-homes.
Who can help
- Insulation companies - most offer free property assessments (Insulfoam, InHome, Pink Batts installers). They will measure R-values and quote the gap.
- Professional healthy homes assessors - EECA-registered assessors do a full written assessment covering all five standards, typically $150-$300. Useful if you want a documented baseline before listing a new tenancy.
- Heat pump installers - will run the MBIE calculation for you as part of the quote.
- Your property manager - if you use one, compliance checks are usually part of their service before a new tenancy.
Track compliance in RentManager
RentManager has this checklist built in per property. Record the current status of each standard, attach photos and invoices, set reminders for re-checks between tenancies, and generate the compliance statement when signing a new agreement. Start at $9/month at rentmanager.nz.
Nick Georgiev, RentManager NZ
Nick bought his first investment property at 22, his first in NZ in 2014, and has been self-managing four Auckland apartments since 2019. He built RentManager because spreadsheets and paper forms were not cutting it.