From 1 July 2025

All private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards.

All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards.

Important things to note

• Tenancies started or renewed between 1 July 2021 and 27 August 2022 must have complied with the healthy homes standards within 90 days.
• Tenancies started or renewed between 28 August 2022 and 2 March 2025 must comply with the healthy homes standards within 120 days.
• Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March 2025 must comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025.
• Landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties meet the standards and continue to do so over time. Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties.
• New or renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed statement with details of the property’s current level of compliance with the standards.

Compliance statement

Note: Landlords need to keep records or documents as evidence of compliance with the healthy homes standards and provide them if requested by the tenant, Tenancy Services or the Tenancy Tribunal.

Find out what you need to do to comply

Healthy homes standards – what a landlord needs to know

Healthy homes standards – what a tenant needs to know

Read about the difference between new, renewed and varied tenancy agreements

Exemptions to the healthy homes standards

If your rental doesn't comply by its deadline

If you’re a tenant and your rental does not meet the healthy homes standards by its deadline, talk to your landlord. There may be reasons outside of their control as to why they haven’t been able to meet the deadline for a particular standard – for example, supply issues. Landlords must be able to show that they have made their best attempts to comply by their deadline, such as taking actions early or attending to maintenance requirements in a timely manner. If you reach an agreement, write down what you’ve agreed, then sign and date it.

If you can’t come to an agreement on how to sort out the problem, you can consider issuing a notice to remedy. This gives the landlord a fixed period of time to get the work done. This fixed period must be reasonable (not less than 14 days). If the landlord does not fix the problem within the time allowed, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to sort the matter out.

Our page about breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act has more information about serving a notice to remedy.

Breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 

Landlords who don’t meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. They may be liable for financial penalties of up to $7,200.

How to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal

From 1 July 2021

• All boarding houses (except Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and Community Housing Provider boarding house tenancies) must comply with the healthy homes standards.
• Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy.

Use the compliance timeframes decision tool to find out when your rental property needs to comply

From 1 December 2020

• Landlords must include a statement of their current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards in most new or renewed tenancy agreements.

Find out more about the compliance statement

From 1 July 2019

• Ceiling and underfloor insulation is compulsory in all rental homes where it is reasonably practicable to install.
• Landlords must sign a statement of intent to comply with the healthy homes standards in any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement.
• This statement is in addition to the existing requirement to include a signed insulation statement with all tenancy agreements that covers what insulation the property has, where it is, and what type.
• Landlords must keep records that demonstrate compliance with any healthy homes standards that apply or will apply during the tenancy.

Required statements for tenancy agreements

Keeping records

From 1 July 2024

• All Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) houses and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the healthy homes standards.

From 1 July 2025

• All private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards.

All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards.

Important things to note

• Tenancies started or renewed between 1 July 2021 and 27 August 2022 must have complied with the healthy homes standards within 90 days.
• Tenancies started or renewed between 28 August 2022 and 2 March 2025 must comply with the healthy homes standards within 120 days.
• Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March 2025 must comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025.
• Landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties meet the standards and continue to do so over time. Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties.
• New or renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed statement with details of the property’s current level of compliance with the standards. 

Compliance statement

Note: Landlords need to keep records or documents as evidence of compliance with the healthy homes standards and provide them if requested by the tenant, Tenancy Services or the Tenancy Tribunal.

Find out what you need to do to comply 

Healthy homes standards – what a landlord needs to know

Healthy homes standards – what a tenant needs to know

Read about the difference between new, renewed and varied tenancy agreements

Exemptions to the healthy homes standards

If your rental doesn't comply by its deadline

If you’re a tenant and your rental does not meet the healthy homes standards by its deadline, talk to your landlord. There may be reasons outside of their control as to why they haven’t been able to meet the deadline for a particular standard – for example, supply issues. Landlords must be able to show that they have made their best attempts to comply by their deadline, such as taking actions early or attending to maintenance requirements in a timely manner. If you reach an agreement, write down what you’ve agreed, then sign and date it.

If you can’t come to an agreement on how to sort out the problem, you can consider issuing a notice to remedy. This gives the landlord a fixed period of time to get the work done. This fixed period must be reasonable (not less than 14 days). If the landlord does not fix the problem within the time allowed, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to sort the matter out.

Our page about breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act has more information about serving a notice to remedy.

Breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 

Landlords who don’t meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. They may be liable for financial penalties of up to $7,200.

How to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal