A few tweaks will help ensure that your property lasts longer, is more secure, needs less long term maintenance and will attract long-term tenants who want to look after the place.

In a nutshell

Heating

A fixed source of heating that meets the minimum heating capacity required for the main living room.

Insulation

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has already been compulsory since 1 July 2019. You’ll need to make sure your insulation meets the new standard.

Ventilation

Make sure each liveable space has an openable window or door. Kitchens and bathrooms need to have an extractor fan to remove the moisture.

Moisture ingress and drainage

Guttering and drainage has to be up for the job and any enclosed subfloor spaces need a moisture barrier.

Draught stopping

If you can feel a draught from an unreasonable gap or hole, then it needs to be sealed up.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. Here’s a breakdown of what you should be doing by when.

From now:

Make a statement

You’ll need to include a statement about your intent to comply and details about your rental’s current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards in new, varied or renewed tenancy agreements.

Find out what statements you need to include(external link)

Keep your paperwork

Make sure you keep all relevant documents as evidence of compliance with the healthy homes standards.

Find out what sorts of documents you should keep(external link)

Raise the standard

From July 2021
  • Boarding houses must comply with the healthy homes standards
  • Private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy agreement.
From July 2023
  • All Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) houses and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the healthy homes standards.
From July 2024
  • All rental homes must comply with the healthy homes standards.

 

Full details on the compliance timeframes(external link)

Healthy homes standards guide [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Check your rental’s health

 

Is your rental up to scratch?

Assessing your home is the first step. Get a professional in or do it yourself. Use our rental health checklist [PDF, 1.3 MB] as a guide.

Get the detail

Now you know what you need to work on, get the detail. Read up about the specifics of what you need, and use the online tools available to help you make decisions.
Read the details about each of the standards.(external link)

Swot up

What products will best fit your needs? Do your research, get quotes and talk to professionals for advice.

Plan your upgrades

 

Plan and prioritise

Decide what needs to be done by when to meet compliance timeframes.

Budgeting

Make sure you have the funds to complete the upgrades. You don’t want to be caught short.

Book it in

Book in industry professionals before the inevitable pre-deadline rush.

Ready for action

 

Keep your tenants in the loop

Let them know what you are doing and why. Here's an info sheet [PDF, 453 KB] you can give tenants to help them do their part. If you're doing maintenance to meet the standards, you will need to give your tenants 24 hours’ notice before you enter the property.

Purchase products

If you are using a tradesperson, they will usually help you with this.

Call in the tradies (or DIY)

In most cases it will be best to get a professional to get the job done well. Don’t forget to give tenants notice if work’s being done at the property.

Keep tabs on it

 

Document it

Keep a hold of all files and receipts as a record of what work was done. Check out this page on keeping records.(external link)

Don’t waste your hard work

Maintaining your rental is not only good for your property but it will keep your tenants happy too.

Signed and sealed

You will need to sign an intent to comply statement with any new, renewed or varied tenancy agreements. This states if you already comply with the standards or that you intend to, so remember to download the official statement.(external link)