What do I need to do to meet the healthy homes standards?

How big does the heater need to be?

You need at least one fixed heater, usually a heat pump, that can heat the main living room to 18°C. Portable heaters, open fires and unflued gas heaters don't count.

The size depends on the room's floor area, ceiling height, glass and insulation. The free heating assessment tool on the Tenancy Services website works it out, or a heating specialist can. Keep a copy of the result as your proof.

Layout makes a big difference. One larger two-storey home we manage in Casebrook has the living room open to the dining area and kitchen, so the whole space had to be measured as one. Because the upper floor sits above it, there's no ceiling insulation to count either. Together, that pushed the heating requirement up to 10.2 kW. 

We had a 10kw heatpump fitted for around $5000 installed.

Is the heating requirement lower for newer homes?

Often, yes. Homes built to the 2008 Building Code insulation and glazing requirements, and certain apartments, use a different heating formula because they hold heat better. That usually means a smaller heater.

A lot of Christchurch rentals were built or rebuilt after the earthquakes, so check which formula applies before you buy a heat pump. The heating assessment tool calculates both.

Often, yes. Homes built to the 2008 Building Code insulation and glazing requirements, and certain apartments, use a different heating formula because they hold heat better. That usually means a smaller heater.

A lot of Christchurch rentals were built or rebuilt after the earthquakes, so check which formula applies before you buy a heat pump. The heating assessment tool calculates both.

Does my older heat pump still count?

It might. A heater installed before 1 July 2019 still complies if it's at least 80% of the required capacity. If the room needs 6 kW and your heat pump is 5 kW, you're fine.

If it falls below 80%, you don't always need a new heat pump. Heating installed before 1 July 2019 can be topped up with a fixed electric heater of up to 2.4 kW. For example, a 3.6 kW heat pump in a room that needs 6 kW can be topped up with a fixed 2.4 kW electric heater with a thermostat.

Either way, when the old heater wears out, the replacement must meet the full 100% requirement, so it's worth budgeting for that now.

What insulation do I need?

Your rental needs ceiling and underfloor insulation that meets the standard. Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri are in climate zone 3, which needs at least R3.3 in the ceiling and R1.3 underfloor. Ceiling insulation installed before July 2016 can still comply if it's at least 120 mm thick and in reasonable condition.

Old, thin or patchy insulation may need topping up or replacing. The Tenancy Services insulation tool shows whether you're likely to need an upgrade. Newly built or renovated homes that meet the 2021 Building Code insulation requirements already comply.

What if I can't fit insulation?

Some homes can't be insulated in places, and the rules allow for that:

• The floor is too low for an installer to get underneath safely.
• It's an upper-level unit with another home directly below (or above, for the ceiling).
• It has a skillion ceiling with no cavity to put insulation into without major building work.

Get an installer to confirm the exemption in writing.

There's also a partial exemption, in force since 25 September 2025, for newer homes with limited ceiling space. In Canterbury it applies to homes consented after 30 September 2008, where extra insulation in the walls, floors or windows makes up for the ceiling. Ask your installer whether your property qualifies.

How does an exemption affect heating?

This is the part many landlords miss. An exemption gets you out of installing insulation, but the heating calculation still treats that insulation as missing. That room loses more heat, so the heater you need can be considerably bigger, just like the Casebrook home above.

What are the ventilation requirements?

Every living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom needs at least one window or door that opens to the outside and can be fixed open. Kitchens and bathrooms also need extractor fans that vent outside, not into the ceiling space.

What are the moisture and drainage requirements?

Gutters, downpipes and drains must carry water away from the house. If the subfloor is enclosed, it needs a ground moisture barrier, usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground.

What counts as a draught?

Block gaps or holes around doors, windows, walls and floors that cause noticeable draughts. Unused open fireplaces must be blocked off too, a common one in older Christchurch homes. A rule of thumb is if it can fit a $2 coin it is a draught that needs attention.

What paperwork do I need?

Every new or renewed tenancy agreement needs a signed healthy homes compliance statement. Keep your heating calculation, insulation reports, exemption letters, invoices and photos. If a tenant asks for them, you must provide them within 21 days.

If your rental doesn't comply, the Tenancy Tribunal can order exemplary damages of up to $7,200. Leaving out the compliance statement can cost up to $500 on its own (Tenancy Services).

What mistakes do landlords commonly make?

Most problems we see come from assumptions, not landlords ignoring the rules.

• Measuring only the living room. If there's no door between the lounge and the hallway, dining area or kitchen, keep measuring until you reach one. Open-plan spaces need bigger heaters.
• Using the wrong heating formula. Post-2008 homes can often use a smaller heater. Older homes can't.
• Guessing the insulation. Check and measure what's actually in the ceiling and underfloor. A guess can put the heater size out.
• Trusting the old installer. A lot of insulation went in before healthy homes existed. "The right size" back then may not meet today's standard.
• Not attaching the statement. It must be in the tenancy agreement, signed. Forgetting it can cost $500.
• Self-declaring without checking. Ticking "complies" isn't enough. You need to back up every answer.
• No photos. Take dated photos of the heater label, insulation, fans and moisture barrier. They're often your best evidence.

How do I keep my rental compliant?

Check these at every routine inspection. If you manage your own rental, these checks are on you, and self-managing can be the right call as long as you stay on top of them:

• Heater works and meets the required size (or 80% if installed before July 2019)
• Insulation hasn't been disturbed by tradespeople or renovations
• Extractor fans work and vent outside
• Gutters are clear and the moisture barrier is intact
• No new draughts
• Compliance statement is signed for each new tenancy

With exemplary damages of up to $7,200 on the table, it pays to know exactly what's required. MBIE's Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team does audit rental properties, and it looks at everything from healthy homes to record keeping.

If you'd rather have it handled properly, it may be worth considering a property manager. Our property management service includes healthy homes checks at every inspection, and here's what a property manager costs in Christchurch.

H2: Frequently asked questions

If I charge less rent, or the tenant doesn't want it, can I opt out? No. The standards apply to every private rental, whatever the rent and whatever the tenant agrees to.

Can I exempt my own property? No. An exemption has to be supported by an authorised person, such as a qualified insulation installer, and you need their report on file.

Do I have to redo the report every year? No. There's currently no legal time frame for how long a report lasts. But the property has to stay compliant, so keep checking things like draughts, spouting and extractor fans to make sure they're still working.

Do the standards apply to newer homes? Yes. Every private rental has to meet all five standards, however new. Newer homes usually pass more easily, and homes built to the 2008 Building Code may need a smaller heater.

What if my tenant blocks the extractor fan or won't use the heat pump? The standards set what you must provide. If a tenant disconnects a fan or blocks a vent, note it at your routine inspection, raise it with them in writing and keep the record. That paper trail protects you if compliance is ever questioned.

What does a healthy homes assessment cost in Christchurch?Most assessments we arrange cost between $200 and $300

Not sure if your rental complies?

We'll check it for you. Book a free rental appraisal and we'll tell you what your property could rent for and flag any healthy homes gaps before they cost you.

Written by Bex Harris, owner and property manager at TED Property Management. Bex is REINZ accredited, holds the New Zealand Certificate in Residential Property Management, and manages rentals across Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check Tenancy Services for the official requirements.