Deadline passes for rental standards: What tenants and landlords need to know
The standards, passed into law in July 2019, introduced minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, drainage and draught stopping.
They came into force gradually, but from July 1, 2025, all new and existing tenancies must abide by the rules.
Time is up for landlords who have failed to bring their properties up to standard. (Source: Breakfast)
Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) head of tenancy Kat Watson said the standards were about keeping New Zealand rentals "warmer, drier, and healthier".
ADVERTISEMENT
"There is no excuse not to comply and information about what landlords need to do to comply has been provided since 2019."
So, what are the standards, what happens if landlords don't comply, and what can tenants do if their homes fall short?
A warm, dry and well-ventilated home is the goal of the new standards. (Source: istock.com)
The standards
There must be at least one fixed heater that can directly heat the main living room and be at least 1.5kW in heating capacity. Heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be needed in most homes, but in some smaller homes a smaller fixed electric heater may be enough.
Ceilings and underfloors must be insulated to a level set according to the climate zone the home is located in. In Zones 1 and 2, which cover most of the North Island, insulation should be 160mm thick in the ceiling and 100mm under the floor. Colder areas, including the South Island and central North Island, were classified as Zone 3 and required ceiling insulation of an 180mm thickness.
Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms must have at least one window, door, or skylight that opens to the outside and can stay open. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rental homes require efficient drainage, including gutters, downpipes and drains to remove stormwater, surface water and groundwater.
Homes should not have unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts.
One of the properties visited by the TCIT in Northland this year that was found not to be fit for human habitation. (Source: Supplied)
Enforcement and consequences
Watson said there were a range of compliance tools available to the Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) to ensure landlords met their obligations.
In 2024, close to half of 1100 proactive assessments identified Healthy Homes Standard breaches. In the first half of 2025, more than 900 proactive assessments had been completed, with breaches in almost 270 cases.
Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and may face consequences.
ADVERTISEMENT
Larger landlords with six or more rental properties could face penalties of up to $50,000 per breach. Smaller landlords face a lower maximum of $7200 per breach.
That $7200 limit applied even if the landlord had broken more than one rule—for example, failing both the Healthy Homes Standards and general maintenance duties would still result in a single maximum penalty of $7200.
Watson said landlords unsure about whether their rental was compliant or what work was needed to bring the property up to standard should look to the information on the Tenancy Services website, speak with industry professionals and trusted service providers.
TCIT has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal, including formal warnings, improvement notices and the ability to take landlords to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What can tenants do if their home isn't up to scratch?
Tenants should be moving into a warm, dry, well-ventilated home at the start of their tenancy, Watson said.
"If a tenant thinks their home is non-compliant, Tenancy Services advises them to have a talk to their landlord and have a look at the healthy homes compliance statement in the tenancy agreement and refer to the information on our website."
Written notice to the landlord to fix the issue within 14 days can be given if they were not satisfied, with escalation to the Tenancy Tribunal if failure to fix the issue is ongoing.
"It is their legal right in New Zealand to have a warm, dry home, we encourage them to check our website for more information."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
3 days ago
- 1News
Deadline passes for rental standards: What tenants and landlords need to know
Time is up for landlords who have failed to bring their properties up to standard, with all New Zealand rental homes now legally required to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards from today. The standards, passed into law in July 2019, introduced minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, drainage and draught stopping. They came into force gradually, but from July 1, 2025, all new and existing tenancies must abide by the rules. Time is up for landlords who have failed to bring their properties up to standard. (Source: Breakfast) Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) head of tenancy Kat Watson said the standards were about keeping New Zealand rentals "warmer, drier, and healthier". ADVERTISEMENT "There is no excuse not to comply and information about what landlords need to do to comply has been provided since 2019." So, what are the standards, what happens if landlords don't comply, and what can tenants do if their homes fall short? A warm, dry and well-ventilated home is the goal of the new standards. (Source: The standards There must be at least one fixed heater that can directly heat the main living room and be at least 1.5kW in heating capacity. Heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be needed in most homes, but in some smaller homes a smaller fixed electric heater may be enough. Ceilings and underfloors must be insulated to a level set according to the climate zone the home is located in. In Zones 1 and 2, which cover most of the North Island, insulation should be 160mm thick in the ceiling and 100mm under the floor. Colder areas, including the South Island and central North Island, were classified as Zone 3 and required ceiling insulation of an 180mm thickness. Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms must have at least one window, door, or skylight that opens to the outside and can stay open. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans. ADVERTISEMENT Rental homes require efficient drainage, including gutters, downpipes and drains to remove stormwater, surface water and groundwater. Homes should not have unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts. One of the properties visited by the TCIT in Northland this year that was found not to be fit for human habitation. (Source: Supplied) Enforcement and consequences Watson said there were a range of compliance tools available to the Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) to ensure landlords met their obligations. In 2024, close to half of 1100 proactive assessments identified Healthy Homes Standard breaches. In the first half of 2025, more than 900 proactive assessments had been completed, with breaches in almost 270 cases. Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and may face consequences. ADVERTISEMENT Larger landlords with six or more rental properties could face penalties of up to $50,000 per breach. Smaller landlords face a lower maximum of $7200 per breach. That $7200 limit applied even if the landlord had broken more than one rule—for example, failing both the Healthy Homes Standards and general maintenance duties would still result in a single maximum penalty of $7200. Watson said landlords unsure about whether their rental was compliant or what work was needed to bring the property up to standard should look to the information on the Tenancy Services website, speak with industry professionals and trusted service providers. TCIT has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal, including formal warnings, improvement notices and the ability to take landlords to the Tenancy Tribunal. What can tenants do if their home isn't up to scratch? Tenants should be moving into a warm, dry, well-ventilated home at the start of their tenancy, Watson said. "If a tenant thinks their home is non-compliant, Tenancy Services advises them to have a talk to their landlord and have a look at the healthy homes compliance statement in the tenancy agreement and refer to the information on our website." Written notice to the landlord to fix the issue within 14 days can be given if they were not satisfied, with escalation to the Tenancy Tribunal if failure to fix the issue is ongoing. "It is their legal right in New Zealand to have a warm, dry home, we encourage them to check our website for more information."
Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki a time to look back, forward
Here's to warm, healthy student flats. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Matariki encourages us to reflect on and remember our losses, celebrate the present and look to the future. This offers beneficial guidance when considering what this time means for students. At mid-year, students remember the version of themselves who began this year. Walking to class in the sun, full of intentions, anxieties and questions. The early year energy carries with it grand plans and high hopes, some of which fade with time, while others come into more precise focus. But there is value in pausing to remember where we began. Matariki is a time for remembering, not only the people we have lost, but also the things, places and relationships that have slipped away quietly. It is a time to reflect on those who are no longer with us, to witness our growth and our small and significant wins. These may be loved ones, old friends or people who shaped us in ways we never fully articulated. They may also be pets. I attended the funeral of Fritz, a friendly dachshund, on Sunday, and found the words, thoughts and feelings sat well within the Matariki kaupapa. Some students may find themselves reckoning with more abstract forms of loss: a friendship that faded, the hope we held for a paper that didn't go as planned, the version of ourselves we thought would feel more certain or be more accomplished by now. These emotional undercurrents can be hard to name and understand in the midst of fast-paced academic university culture, but they are deserving of a space too. The semester break and Matariki might be the perfect outlet for a safe unpacking and understanding of these feelings. Students live under pressures that can render rest invisible. We are encouraged to move fast, achieve consistently and always plan for what's next. These pressures aren't only academic. The conditions in which students live are also part of the picture. It has been heartening to see recent scrutiny placed on landlords who have failed to meet the Healthy Homes Standards. The subpar housing faced by many students is often laughed off as a "quirk" of flatting in Dunedin, but in reality, it is a form of neglect. Reflection is needed on the systems we are a part of and how we can imagine better, warmer, drier and more dignified futures for students in those flats. Matariki and the semester break ask us to pause and acknowledge that not every season will be perfect, and consider how the imperfections of the past year may have led to subtle positive changes and learnings. It also calls for a celebration of the present. The end of exams often feels like emerging from a dark tunnel into the light. The stress begins to ease, the calendar quietens and the urgency of academic life is momentarily replaced by slower rhythms. Many students head home during this period. They reconnect with people, places and communities that shaped them. Others take trips with friends. It was Mardi Gras in Queenstown this past weekend, a winter festival featuring some student favourite artists, like Hybrid Minds. Festival-goers dress up winter-themed, in pyjamas, ski gear or other costumes to dance in the mud and cold. Other students remain in Dunedin, again enjoying the quieter streets and cafes, enjoying the opportunity to read books that aren't assigned readings or write something that isn't an assignment. This is also a time of intellectual celebration. Although most results haven't been released yet, there is pride in what has been learned. I have found myself able to answer more questions and contribute to conversations with new knowledge gained from the papers I took in semester 1. Learning is not confined to the university campus; it follows us wherever we go. Traditionally, the rising of Matariki and Puanga signalled not just remembrance and celebration, but direction. The stars were read to anticipate the season ahead and prepare for the future. As students, we also find ourselves building our future. One example is in choosing papers for semester 2, which requires reflection, planning and asking important questions. Who do I want to become? What questions do I want to explore? What work is mine to do? For some, this will be their final university break. For myself and others, it is just another step in a longer arc. However, the motion of university finds ways to continue over the break; applications to submit, club meetings to attend, flatting decisions to be made, thoughts about life next semester, next year, even ten years down the line. Although this movement doesn't seem to stop, the break and Matariki remind us we do not have to rush. This sequence of remembrance, celebration and preparation has been a useful foundation for thought. We are granted a break during these mid-year weeks, and many are enjoying the comforts of a warm, peaceful home. Still, I do empathise with students who will be returning to Dunedin to subpar housing and, like many, will be looking forward to the actions taken following the recent review by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Kind regards, Grace. — Dunedin resident Grace Togneri is a fourth-year law student.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Deadline to comply with Healthy Homes rules looms
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Dunedin renters are living in cold, damp and mouldy houses. PHOTO: ODT FILES Time is running out for rental properties to comply with Healthy Homes rules. By July 1, all tenancies need to meet the rules. But what can you do if you're living in one that has not been brought up to standard? What are the Healthy Homes standards, anyway? The rules set basic standards for heating, insulation and ventilation. PHOTO: ODT FILES They have been introduced in stages, but from next Tuesday, every rental property needs to comply. Landlords need to provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat a home's main living room. These need to meet the minimum heating capacity. Properties need to be insulated in the ceiling and under the floor, unless the design of the home makes this impossible. Every liveable area needs a window or door that opens to the outdoors and can be fixed open. Kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans. PHOTO: ODT FILES But what if your home doesn't meet these rules? All rental properties also need efficient drainage, guttering and downpipes and any gaps or holes need to be blocked. If you are reading through that list and thinking the place you're renting is not up to standard, there are a few things you can do. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment head of tenancy Kat Watson said tenants could start by talking to their landlords or property managers and checking for a Healthy Homes compliance statement in their tenancy agreements. If that does not solve the problem, they could then give their landlords written notice asking them to fix the issues. Tenants can give landlords a 14-day notice to resolve, requiring action on specific things. PHOTO: ODT FILES What if that doesn't work? If you have no luck with these steps, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for help. "An adjudicator can make decisions such as issuing a work order for the landlord to bring the property up to standard, order compensation to be paid for failing to do so in the first place or award damages to be paid by the landlord for not meeting minimum standards for rental properties," Ms Watson said. "For serious or repeated breaches — especially those affecting vulnerable individuals — you can contact the tenancy compliance and investigations team. "Tenancy Services' website has great resources for first-time tenants, to help them understand what to expect and what to look for when moving into a rental home, particularly for those renting for the first time. Tenants are responsible for keeping a rental property reasonably clean and tidy." By Susan Edmunbds
