Is Your Rental Ready for the Healthy Homes Deadline? Find Out What Needs To Be Done

Date: 17 Apr 2025

Have you taken the steps to ensure your rental is Healthy Homes compliant? The clock is ticking, and the 1 July 2025 Healthy Homes compliance deadline is now just around the corner. For all landlords with managed properties, this is your last chance to act. It’s never been more important for landlords and property owners to ensure their rental properties meet the required standards. Making sure every property is compliant, comfortable, and healthy for tenants.

What Are the Healthy Homes Standards?

The Healthy Homes Standards are government-mandated regulations that set minimum requirements to improve the quality of rental homes across New Zealand. These standards cover:

• Heating: A fixed heating source in the main living room that can heat the space to at least 18°C.
• Insulation: Adequate ceiling and underfloor insulation where practicable.
• Ventilation: Openable windows in living spaces and extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage: Efficient drainage and ground moisture barriers if required.
• Draught Stopping: Eliminating unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts.

What Happens If You’re Not Ready?

From 1 July 2025, every rental property in New Zealand must be fully compliant with the Healthy Homes Standards. This isn’t a soft deadline—there will be no exceptions, no grace periods, and no last-minute extensions.

If your property isn't ready by then:

• It cannot legally be rented. A vacancy could mean weeks or months of lost income while you scramble to meet compliance.
• You may face significant penalties. The Tenancy Tribunal can impose fines of up to $7,200 per breach.
• Property managers and landlords have a legal obligation to ensure all rental homes meet the Healthy Homes Standards. If a property remains non-compliant after the 1 July 2025 deadline, you may have to cease management until it meets the necessary requirements.

Contractor availability is tightening, and supply chain issues may affect the delivery and installation of heating units, extractor fans, and insulation materials. Some properties require more extensive planning, which can take time to process. Even once the physical work is done, the required documentation and record-keeping must be completed accurately to avoid penalties—simply having the work done isn’t enough if you can’t prove it. Don’t be like the landlords who wait until June only to discover that tradespeople are fully booked, every week counts. Leaving compliance to the last minute could mean lost rental income, legal headaches, and unnecessary stress. Get ahead now!

Talk to your property manager today to ensure your property is Healthy Homes compliant well before the clock runs out. Don’t wait until it’s too late—protect your investment, stay within the law, and keep your property rentable.