As a property manager in Aotearoa, your priority is ensuring tenants live in safe, warm, and healthy homes and now the law backs you up. From 1 July 2025, the Healthy Homes Standards (HHS) must be met from day one of any tenancy, no more grace periods. This landmark shift tightens the rules and boosts tenant wellbeing.
Let’s break down what you need to know and how to get ahead.
What’s Changing?
- The Healthy Homes Standards, covering heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught-stopping, were introduced in July 2019 and rolled out over time
- Previously, landlords had 90 days (from July 2021 to August 2022) or 120 days (from August 2022 onward) to comply after a tenancy began
- From 1 July 2025, all private rentals must fully comply from the start of any tenancy
The 5 Key Standards at a Glance
- Heating
A fixed heater, not portable, must heat the main living area to at least 18 °C, typically via a heat pump, flued gas heater, pellet burner, or wood burner - Insulation
Ceilings and under floors must meet Building Code R-value requirements, with effective thermal performance across all climate zones - Ventilation
All habitable areas need openable windows (≥5 % of floor area) that can be fixed open. Kitchens and bathrooms require extractor fans - Moisture Ingress & Drainage
Efficient drainage (gutters, downpipes) must be in place, and properties with enclosed subfloors need ground moisture barriers - Draught-Stopping
Seal gaps over 3 mm wide around windows, doors, floors, or ceilings. Unused fireplaces must be sealed
Action Steps for Property Managers
- Audit Your Properties
Use the Tenancy Services Heating Assessment Tool and Tenancy Services checklists to assess compliance across all units - Schedule and Execute Upgrades
Prioritise essential fixes like heating and insulation upgrades, then tackle ventilation, drainage, and draught sealing - Document Everything
Keep receipts, certification, photos. Include a Healthy Homes compliance statement in all tenancy agreements—it’s now mandatory - Communicate Clearly
Let tenants know when work will take place and why. Clear communication keeps trust strong and disruptions minimal
Final Thoughts
The 1 July 2025 deadline is here and with no more grace period, action is essential. Use this as an opportunity to elevate your service, future-proof your properties, and safeguard both tenant wellbeing and landlord interests. Not sure where to begin? I’d be happy to help you build a compliance roadmap, draft tenant communications, or source reliable assessors.