Healthy Homes Standards: Know Your Rights

Whether you have just signed a new tenancy agreement or have been in your flat for a while, do you know what your landlord is legally required to provide? Every private rental in New Zealand must have proper heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture control, and draught stopping. This story covers what to check for, and what to do if your flat doesn’t stack up.

If you need help, AUSA’s Independent Student Advice team is here for you.

The Rule

The Healthy Homes Standards sit under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Since 1 July 2025, every private rental in NZ must meet all 5 standards at all times – not just when a new tenancy starts.

The old rule (90/120 days to comply after a new tenancy) is gone. There’s no grace period left. If your flat doesn’t meet the standards right now, your landlord is in breach.

This applies to flats, halls, and any private rental – student or not.

Standard 1: Heating

Your main living room needs a fixed heater capable of warming the room to at least 18°C, with a minimum output of 1.5kW.

Portable heaters, unflued gas heaters, and open fireplaces don’t count toward this standard – they’re not considered reliable or safe enough.

Bigger rooms need more heating capacity – landlords are meant to use MBIE’s online heating calculator to work out the right kW for the room size.

Standard 2: Insulation

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is compulsory where it’s physically possible to install it. It also has to be in good condition – free of gaps, damage, or dampness.

NZ is split into 3 climate zones with different minimum R-values:

• Zone 1: (Northland, Auckland): R2.9 ceiling/R1.3 underfloor
• Zone 2: (Wellington, Waikato): R2.9 ceiling/R1.3 underfloor
• Zone 3 (South Island): R3.3 ceiling/R1.3 underfloor

Properties already meeting 2021 Building Code insulation levels are automatically compliant.

Standard 3: Ventilation

Habitable rooms (living areas, bedrooms) need windows that actually open, sized appropriately for the room.

Kitchens and bathrooms – where moisture builds up fast – need an extractor fan or equivalent ventilation system venting outside, not just into a wall cavity.

Poor ventilation is a huge contributor to mould and condensation, which is a health issue as well as a compliance one.

Standard 4: Moisture & Drainage

If the property has an enclosed subfloor, it needs a ground moisture barrier to stop damp rising up into the house.

Guttering, downpipes, and drainage systems need to be working properly and directing water away from the foundations – not pooling around the property.

This standard exists specifically to stop water ingress that leads to damp, mould, and structural damage.

Standard 5: Draught Stopping

Any unnecessary gaps or holes that let draughts into the house must be blocked – this includes gaps in the walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and skirting boards.

Unused open fireplaces and chimneys must be closed off or blocked. The only exception is if the tenant asks in writing to keep the fireplace usable and the landlord agrees, in that case, it must be kept in good working order.

Draughts undo the benefits of heating and insulation – all five standards work together.

What to Do If Your Flat Doesn’t Meet the Standard

1. Raise it in writing with your landlord or property manager (keep a record via email, not text)
2. Contact Tenancy Services for free advice: tenancy.govt.nz
3. Apply to the Tenancy Tribunal if it isn’t fixed. You can seek orders forcing compliance and compensation.

Landlords who don’t comply can be fined up to $7,200. Every tenancy agreement is also required to include a signed Healthy Homes compliance statement – ask to see yours if you haven’t.

A cold, damp flat isn’t just uncomfortable.

It affects your sleep, your health, and your ability to study. You are entitled to a warm, dry home – this isn’t a favour from your landlord, it’s the law.

If you have any questions, feel free to email advice@ausa.org.nz or come to the AUSA House (4 Alfred Street) on city campus.