Not Sure if Your Rental Meets Healthy Homes Standards? Here’s What to Check
- Vertex Property Management
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
From 1 July 2025, as a landlord for residential property, you're legally required to meet the Healthy Homes Standards but knowing what’s actually required (and when) can be confusing.
Whether you're renting out a previously owner-occupied home, managing a long-term tenancy, or preparing your rental for new tenants, this guide will help you understand what you need to do to tick the boxes.
What Are the Healthy Homes Standards?
The Healthy Homes Standards (HHS) set minimum requirements for:
Heating
Insulation
Ventilation
Moisture ingress & drainage
Draught stopping
These rules are designed to make rental homes warmer, drier, and healthier especially important in Christchurch’s cold, damp winters.
You can check the official guidance and download the landlord checklist here:
Do You Need to Comply Before Renting Out a Property?
Yes. If you're turning your own home into a rental (even if it's a brand-new build), the property must meet Healthy Homes Standards before the tenancy starts, unless a specific exemption applies.
We often see private landlords get caught out here especially those renting out owner-occupied homes or newly built properties. Healthy Homes Standards compliance is still required, regardless of how new or well-kept the property is.
If you're unsure, we recommend booking an assessment with a professional who can provide a written report with pictures and outline any areas that need work to bring the property up to standard.
If you’ve had a professional assessment done, they may also provide a compliance certificate, which is useful to keep on record and can help protect you if questions are raised later by tenants or the Tenancy Tribunal.
When Do You Need to Comply?
At the start of any new or renewed tenancy – your property must be fully compliant.
During an ongoing tenancy – standards still apply, and landlords should maintain compliance throughout the term.
What Happens If Your Rental Is Not Compliant?
The Tenancy Tribunal can issue fines of up to $7,200 per breach, per property.
Factors That Can Put Your Rental Out of Compliance
Even if your property was compliant once, things can change. Examples we’ve seen include:
Broken heat pump in the main living area = no longer meets heating standard
Loose or gapping main doors/windows = fails draught stopping
Bathroom extractor fans not working = ventilation standard not met
Blocked gutters or water pooling = potential moisture ingress
Lack of fixed heating source = doesn’t meet required kilowatt output
Not Sure if Your Heating Is Up to Standard?
Use the official heating assessment tool to check if the main living room has enough fixed heating: Heating Assessment Tool
If the current heating source doesn’t meet the required kilowatt capacity, it needs to be upgraded.
Who’s Responsible – Landlord or Property Manager?
If you use a property manager, you're still legally responsible as the landlord but the manager can also be held liable if they fail to ensure the property complies.
In short, both parties can face penalties if the rental does not meet the Healthy Homes Standards.
This is why it's crucial to work with a property manager who’s across the details and proactive with compliance.
Still Not Sure What To Do Next?
If you're finding it hard to keep up with the Healthy Homes updates and want to make sure your rental property is compliant, we’re always happy to help.
Book a free 15-minute consultation here and we can talk through what applies to your rental property, what to check, and the steps involved.
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