If you own a rental property, there’s a key deadline coming up that you won’t want to miss.
From 1 July 2025, all private rental properties in New Zealand must fully comply with the Healthy Homes Standards. These standards were introduced to make sure rental homes are warm, dry, and healthy. Since 1 July 2019, all rental properties have been required to meet minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage and draught stopping.
When do you need to meet the standards?
All rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2025.
Until then, the time frame depends on the type of tenancy or when a new tenancy starts or is renewed.
What happens if you don’t meet the standards?
Failing to meet the standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. That could mean financial penalties and legal consequences — not something you want to deal with.
What needs to be in the tenancy agreement?
Every new or renewed tenancy agreement must include a signed statement outlining the property’s current level of compliance with the Healthy Homes Standards.
What records should you keep?
Landlords must keep documentation that proves compliance — and be ready to show it if asked by:
Landlords are committing an unlawful act if they don’t supply the records within 10 working days of a request and do not have a reasonable excuse. Tenants can also request information about compliance with the healthy homes standards.
Landlords must provide this information to tenants within 21 days.
