Make the most of your investment.

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.

An easy to use breakdown of the new healthy homes standards.

Read our short guide to help you to understand what the new requirements are and how you can make sure your property is up to scratch.

In a nutshell

Heating

A fixed source of heating that can warm the main living room to 18°C year round.

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.

The path to a healthy investment

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. You can use our rental health checklist [PDF, 1.4 MB] as a guide.

Get the big picture

Have an overview of your property’s health and keep track of what needs to be done.

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

Find out what needs to be done first to meet compliance timeframes.

Budgeting

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

Book it in

Make sure you 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, 969 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 property will keep it a healthy investment and keep your tenants happy.

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)

 

When do I need to do it?

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

From now:

Print it, sign it

Remember, you'll need to sign a statement that you will comply with the healthy homes standards. This is for any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreements.

Keep your paperwork

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

From December 2020

Comply, don’t deny

As well as the statement that you will comply, you’ll need to include specific information about your current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards in any new or renewed tenancy agreement.

From July 2021

New tenancy, new timeline

Private landlords, keep an eye on the calendar and make sure that from this date your rental property complies within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy.

Boarding houses

If your property is a boarding house, then it must comply with the healthy homes standards.

From July 2023

If your property is a Housing New Zealand or registered Community Housing Provider rental, then it must comply with the healthy homes standards.

From July 2024

That’s all folks!

All rental homes must comply with the healthy homes standards.