Healthy Homes Compliance Checker.
60 seconds across the five standards. Get a per-standard pass/fail, a heating capacity estimate, and a prioritised fix list with NZ-typical costs.
Compliance has been mandatory since 1 July 2025. Tenancy Tribunal can fine landlords up to $7,200 per breach for non-compliance with Healthy Homes Standards. Use this checker to see where you stand.
Scope: this checker is for standard residential tenancies in NZ. Boarding houses are also covered but have specific provisions; commercial and short-stay properties are out of scope.
Enter your living-room size to see the compliance check.
Updates as you type — no signup needed.
What landlords have to provide.
Heating
A fixed heater in the main living room sized to reach 18°C. Heat pumps, wood/pellet burners, fixed electric and flued gas qualify. Open fires, unflued gas and portable heaters don't.
Insulation
Ceiling insulation at R2.9+ (NZS 4218 Zones 1 & 2 — most of NZ) or R3.3+ (Zone 3 — Central Plateau, lower South Island, West Coast south of Buller). Underfloor R1.3+ where the subfloor is accessible (≥400mm clearance). A partial ceiling exemption (reg 19A, in force 25 Sep 2025) may apply to homes with limited roof space — see FAQ.
Ventilation
Openable windows in every habitable room. Extractor fans in the kitchen and any bathroom, venting outside.
Moisture & drainage
Working stormwater drains, gutters and downpipes. A ground vapour barrier under the subfloor where it's accessible.
Draught stopping
Block unreasonable gaps in walls, floors, doors, windows and around chimneys/fireplaces no longer in use.
Common landlord questions.
Are the Healthy Homes Standards mandatory?+
Yes. Every private rental in NZ has had to comply since 1 July 2025. Boarding houses had an earlier deadline (1 July 2021) and Kāinga Ora / community housing properties had to comply by 1 July 2024. Tenancy Tribunal can fine landlords up to $7,200 per breach.
Does this checker cover boarding houses?+
It's designed for standard residential tenancies. Boarding houses are also covered by the Healthy Homes Standards but with some specific provisions (per-room and shared-area rules). The checker's per-rental questions don't always map cleanly — use it as a guide and confirm against Tenancy Services for boarding-house specifics.
What's the reg 19A partial ceiling-insulation exemption?+
Added by the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Regulations 2025 and in force from 25 September 2025. It allows a partial exemption from the ceiling-insulation standard where roof space is limited, provided there's compensating insulation in walls, floors, or windows, and provided the property meets specific building-consent date prerequisites. Conditions are narrow — check the Tenancy Services exemptions page before relying on it.
Does this tool give me a binding heating capacity number?+
No — it gives a rough estimate based on living-room size, climate zone, and insulation status. The binding figure for a tenancy agreement comes from MBIE's official Heating Assessment Tool, which we link to from the result.
What heater types qualify?+
Fixed heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners, fixed electric heaters, and flued gas heaters all qualify if they meet the capacity requirement and are at least 1.5 kW. Open fireplaces, unflued gas heaters, and portable heaters do NOT qualify.
Do I have to insulate the underfloor?+
Only if the subfloor is accessible — i.e. there's at least 400mm of clearance to safely work in it. If access is too low, the standard doesn't require it.
What's a ground vapour barrier?+
Polythene sheeting (typically 250-micron) laid on the bare ground under the house. Stops moisture from the soil rising into the building. Costs $800–$1,500 for a typical house.
Do I need a Healthy Homes compliance statement?+
Yes. Since 1 December 2020, the compliance statement must be included in the tenancy agreement itself — i.e. provided to the tenant as part of the agreement, not after it's signed. It lists the current level of compliance with each of the five standards. The Tenancy Services site has the template.
What if my property doesn't comply yet?+
You're in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and exposed to Tribunal penalties. Plan and quote the upgrades — heat pumps, extractors, vapour barriers — and get them done. Insulation and heating are usually the priority.
Most are tax-deductible.
Heat pumps, insulation, extractors and vapour barriers are typically deductible against rental income (some via depreciation, some as expenses). Zelvo classifies them automatically and produces IR3-ready figures.
This is a guide only, not tax advice. Tax rules change each year and your situation may involve factors not covered here. Consult a registered NZ tax professional or chartered accountant before filing. Zelvo accepts no liability for errors in tax calculations or filings made using this tool.