How Do I Ensure My Property Is Healthy Homes Compliant?

1. Evaluate the Five Healthy Homes Standards

Your property must be systematically checked against these core pillars:

• Heating: You must provide one or more fixed heaters (such as a heat pump, flued gas heater, or wood burner) in the main living room. The device must meet a calculated heating capacity threshold capable of achieving at least 18°C on the coldest days. Unflued gas heaters, open fireplaces, and electric plug-in heaters are explicitly banned. You can determine your specific requirements using the official Tenancy Services Heating Assessment Tool.
• Insulation: Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet minimum R-value standards based on your regional climate zone. The insulation must be in reasonable physical condition without gaps, dampness, or settling. Note that old underfloor foil insulation rarely complies and is dangerous to repair.
• Ventilation: Every habitable room (living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens) must have at least one openable window, door, or skylight that can be fixed in an open position. The openable surface area must equal at least 5% of that room’s total floor area. Additionally, kitchens and bathrooms must have operational extractor fans that vent directly to the outdoors.
• Moisture Ingress and Drainage: The home must feature efficient gutters, downpipes, and drainage systems to divert stormwater and groundwater away from the building. If the property has an enclosed subfloor space, a continuous ground moisture barrier (polythene sheet) must be installed over the soil.
• Draught Stopping: You must block any unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors that create noticeable draughts. A practical guideline is that any gap wider than 3mm—roughly the width of a $2 NZ coin—must be sealed. Unused fireplaces must also be securely blocked.