Healthy Homes Standards Deadline: What Landlords Need to Know Before 1 July 2025

With the final Healthy Homes Standards compliance deadline fast approaching on 1 July 2025, landlords across the country are being urged to act now—or risk significant financial and legal consequences.

Initially introduced to raise the minimum standard of rental housing across Aotearoa, the Healthy Homes Standards cover heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping.

While many landlords have taken steps toward compliance, thousands are still at risk of falling short just weeks from the deadline.

What’s Changing?

From 1 July 2025, all private rental properties must meet the full Healthy Homes Standards—regardless of when the tenancy began.

The transitional period is ending, and properties that were previously exempt based on tenancy start dates must now fully comply.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Landlords who fail to meet the standards can be fined up to $7,200 per property, per breach. Additionally, they may be ordered to compensate tenants and could face reputational damage that impacts their ability to attract quality renters.

Industry Response

Across the country, compliance professionals report a rush of last-minute bookings for assessments and upgrades. With many contractors operating at full capacity, delays in scheduling could mean some landlords miss the deadline even after initiating compliance efforts.

"The risk right now isn’t just about ignoring the standards—it's about not acting fast enough," says Stacey Martin, a Healthy Homes consultant based in Wellington. "Even landlords with the best intentions could find themselves in breach simply because they left it too late to book contractors or receive certification."

Are There Any Exemptions?

While most properties must meet the standards in full, there are limited exemptions outlined by Tenancy Services. These include:

• Not reasonably practicable: If a feature cannot be installed due to structural or design limitations (e.g. skillion roofs, concrete slab floors, or heritage constraints), landlords may be exempt from specific standards—but this must be documented and justified.

• Intended demolition or conversion: If the property is due to be demolished or converted within 12 months, and this can be evidenced (e.g. with consented plans), it may qualify for a short-term exemption.

• Recently built homes: New builds that comply with the 2008 Building Code or above may already meet or exceed the standards, but landlords are still required to provide a Healthy Homes compliance statement.

  
  

Importantly, exemptions are not automatic. They require proper evidence, and failure to document exemption status can still result in penalties.

What Landlords Should Do Now

• Book a Healthy Homes compliance assessment immediately

• Review any previous reports to ensure full—not partial—compliance

• Address common failure points such as fixed heating sources and underfloor insulation

• Maintain thorough records in case of future disputes or tribunal claims