What do I need to know about the new healthy homes standards?

The detailed regulations will be finalised in the next few months, and then guidance and tools will be available to help rental property owners and property managers meet the new standards.

What to expect and when : 

By 1 July 2019 : Boarding houses must comply with all of the standards. 

From 1 July 2021:Private landlords must ensure that their rental properties comply with the standards within 90 days of any new tenancy.

Until 1 July 2023: Housing New Zealand and Registered Community Housing Providers must ensure all their properties comply.

By 1 July 2024: All rental properties in New Zealand must meet the Healthy Homes Standards

The Healthy Homes Standards (HHS) are:

Heating: Rental homes must have fixed heating devices in living rooms, which can warm rooms to at least 18°C. Some heating devices are inefficient, unaffordable or unhealthy and they will not meet the heating standard requirements.

Insulation: Rental homes must have ceiling and underfloor insulation which either meets the 2008 Building Code or for existing ceiling insulation is at least 120mm thick.

Ventilation: Rental homes must have the right size extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms and opening windows in the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms.

Moisture and drainage: Rental homes must have efficient drainage and guttering, downpipes and drains. If a rental home has an enclosed subfloor, it must have a ground moisture barrier if it’s possible to install one.

Draught-stopping: Rental homes must have no unnecessary gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors and doors that cause noticeable draughts. All unused chimneys and fireplaces must be blocked.

Under the current requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords must ensure that their rental properties have the right ceiling and underfloor insulation by 1 July 2019.

Landlords who have installed new insulation since 2016 should already meet the 2008 Building Code, so they won’t need to do anything further when the Healthy Homes Standards take effect.

However, landlords who didn’t previously need to insulate under the current requirements may now need to do so under the Healthy Homes Standards. Currently, if the property already has ceiling insulation which is at least 70mm thick and underfloor insulation, and both are in good condition, then landlords have not been required to take action.

Under the Healthy Homes Standards, all rental properties will need to have insulation which meets the 2008 Building Code or is at least 120mm thick.

More information about Healthy Homes Standards
Visit the website www.tenancy.govt.nz