The 1 July Healthy Homes compliance deadline has come and gone - a key milestone for landlords across New Zealand. It’s been a huge effort to bring properties up to standard, and the results are clear: warmer, drier, healthier homes and reassurance that legal obligations are being met.

But importantly, Healthy Homes compliance isn’t something that ends with a deadline. The standards set an ongoing expectation that rental properties will be maintained to a certain level. Staying on top of these standards means regular checks, accurate records and addressing issues as they arise.

A quick recap – the five key focus areas

• Heating: every rental must have a fixed heater - such as a heat pump or an electric heater with a thermostat - that can directly heat the main living room to the required standard.
• Insulation: ceiling and underfloor insulation must be in place unless an exemption applies. In some cases, older insulation may need topping up or replacing to meet current R‑values.
• Ventilation: living rooms and bedrooms must have a window, door or skylight that opens to the outside and can be fixed open. Kitchens and bathrooms must also have extractor fans that vent externally.
• Moisture ingress and drainage: properties must have working gutters, downpipes and drainage to move water away from the home. If there’s an enclosed subfloor, a ground moisture barrier must be installed where it’s practical to do so.
• Draught stopping: gaps or holes that create noticeable draughts need to be blocked. Open fireplaces must also be closed up unless the tenant has agreed in writing that they’ll be used.

Why ongoing maintenance matters
Even when a property meets Healthy Homes standards, keeping it that way requires attention. Heat pumps need servicing, insulation can degrade or move out of place, extractor fans can fail, drainage issues can develop over time - and more. A regular programme of checks and maintenance is essential so that small problems don’t become larger issues (equalling non-compliance) down the track. 

The importance of the signed compliance statement
A key factor in all of the Healthy Homes legislation is to ensure that your compliance statement is signed by you, the property owner. An unsigned or incorrect statement could be picked up at any time - during a routine Tenancy Services check, after a complaint or during a tenancy tribunal case for example - which will likely lead to consequences. If you’re with the team at Barfoot & Thompson, your property manager can support you through this process and make sure everything is documented and up to date. If you manage your own property, it’s worth double‑checking that everything is in order.

Looking ahead – new pet rules
While Healthy Homes is in the spotlight, it’s also worth noting that new pet legislation is expected later this year. The changes will mean landlords can’t unreasonably refuse pets. We’ll keep you posted as details emerge and work with you to prepare for what this could mean in practice.