Healthy Homes Checklist NZ: A Guide for Wellington Landlords

Last updated: 6 October 2026

Every private rental in New Zealand must now meet the five Healthy Homes Standards: heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. The final deadline for private landlords was 1 July 2025. This checklist sets out what each standard requires, the paperwork you need, and what to look out for in Wellington’s older, windier and damper housing.

The Healthy Homes checklist

1. Heating

There is at least one fixed heater that can directly heat the main living room.
The heater can warm the room to at least 18°C. Its required capacity depends on the room’s size, windows and insulation, so use the Tenancy Services heating assessment tool to work it out.
The heater is an acceptable type. Open fires and unflued gas heaters do not qualify. If the room needs more than 2.4 kW of heating, electric heating must be a fixed heat pump.

2. Insulation

There is ceiling and underfloor insulation wherever it is reasonably practicable to install it.
Ceiling insulation is at least R2.9 for Wellington, which sits in climate zone 2. Existing ceiling insulation installed before 1 July 2016 must be at least 120 mm thick.

Underfloor insulation is at least R1.3.
The insulation is in reasonable condition: no mould, damp, damage or gaps.

3. Ventilation

Every habitable room (living areas, kitchen and bedrooms) has at least one window or door to the outside that can be fixed open, with an opening area of at least 5% of the room’s floor area.
The kitchen and every bathroom have an extractor fan that vents outside and meets the minimum size in the regulations.

4. Moisture ingress and drainage

Gutters, downpipes and drains carry stormwater, surface water and ground water away from the house.
If the house has an enclosed subfloor, there is a ground moisture barrier (polythene sheeting) on the ground underneath.

5. Draught stopping

There are no unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors or doors that cause noticeable draughts.
Any open fireplace is blocked off, unless the tenant asks for it to stay open and you agree.

Paperwork

Every new, renewed or varied tenancy agreement includes a signed healthy homes compliance statement.
You keep records showing how the property complies (invoices, heating calculations, insulation reports, photos).
You can give a tenant compliance information within 21 days if they ask for it.

What does a Healthy Homes inspection check in Wellington?

A healthy homes inspection checks the property against each item above and records the evidence: room measurements and the heating calculation, insulation type and thickness, window opening areas, extractor fan specifications, the condition of gutters and the subfloor, and any draughts. In Wellington, the items most often found wanting are draughts in older villas and bungalows, missing ground moisture barriers under houses on piles, and extractor fans that vent into the ceiling space rather than outside.

Do I need a professional healthy homes assessor?

The law requires your rental to comply and you to keep records, not that you use a particular assessor. Many landlords still use one, because a professional report is clear evidence if a tenant or the Tenancy Tribunal questions compliance.

What happens if a rental does not meet the Healthy Homes Standards?

Not meeting the standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act. Tenants can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal, and landlords can face financial penalties of up to $7,200. Leaving the compliance statement out of a tenancy agreement can bring a penalty of up to $500 per tenancy.

Going beyond the minimum

The standards are a floor. In Wellington’s wind and damp, a few upgrades make a rental easier to let and cheaper to maintain: double glazing to cut heat loss and condensation, a heat pump sized above the minimum, and planned maintenance of gutters and subfloor ventilation. See our maintenance schedule for Wellington landlords for timing.

How Taylor Property Plus keeps your rental compliant

For the landlords we manage, we check the property against every standard, arrange any work through our registered trades, keep the records and compliance statements up to date, and re-check at our quarterly inspections. If you are not sure where your rental stands, our property management in Wellington team can help, starting with a rental appraisal.

Request a rental appraisal

Frequently asked questions

Do all rentals have to meet the Healthy Homes Standards now?

Yes. All private rentals had to comply by 1 July 2025, unless an exemption applies.

What are the five Healthy Homes Standards?

Heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping.

What is the Healthy Homes compliance statement?

A signed statement in every new, renewed or varied tenancy agreement that sets out the property’s current level of compliance with each standard. Tenancy Services publishes a template.

What insulation R-value do I need in Wellington?

At least R2.9 in the ceiling and R1.3 under the floor. Existing ceiling insulation installed before 1 July 2016 must be at least 120 mm thick.

How much is the fine for not meeting Healthy Homes?

Up to $7,200 for a breach, and up to $500 per tenancy for leaving out the compliance statement.

This checklist is general information. Always check the current requirements at tenancy.govt.nz.

Resources and Support

Remember, a healthy rental property benefits everyone. By following these guidelines and going the extra mile, you can attract responsible tenants and ensure your investment thrives. Here are some helpful resources:

Tenancy Services: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes/
Healthy Homes Standards Wellington City Council: https://wellington.govt.nz/climate-change-sustainability-environment/sustainable-living/sustainable-homes-and-buildings/healthy-homes-requirements

Landlords, Property Management, Rental Property, Wellington

Healthy Homes checklist for Wellington landlords