But healthy homes compliance is not a one-off exercise. It is an ongoing responsibility.
All private rentals must now comply with the healthy homes standards, and landlords need to make sure the property continues to meet those standards throughout the tenancy. Tenancy Services puts it simply: once your property meets the standards, you need to make sure it stays that way. If something has been installed or provided to meet a healthy homes standard, it must be maintained in good working order, or replaced if it cannot be maintained.
Why old healthy homes reports can become risky
Many landlords had their properties assessed when the healthy homes rules first came in. That means some assessments may now be several years old.
There is not a simple rule that says every property must be reassessed every 12 months, or that a healthy homes report automatically expires after a fixed period. In one recent Tribunal order, the tenant criticised the landlord for not obtaining an updated assessment, but the Tribunal said the landlord was not obligated to obtain a further report.
That does not mean old reports should be relied on without question.
The risk comes when a landlord signs a new, renewed or varied tenancy agreement. Those agreements must include a signed statement with details of the property’s current level of compliance with the healthy homes standards.
In other words, the question is not simply: “Did this property comply when it was assessed years ago?”
The better question is: “Am I comfortable signing today that the information in this statement is still true and accurate?”
Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord must include healthy homes information in the tenancy agreement and must comply with the healthy homes standards. The Act also makes it an unlawful act for a landlord’s statement to include anything the landlord knows to be false or misleading. The maximum exemplary damages listed for a false or misleading statement under section 13A is $900.
Between tenancies is the natural time to review compliance
A change of tenancy is one of the best times to revisit healthy homes compliance.
The property is usually easier to access. There is an opportunity to check whether anything has changed. And, most importantly, the landlord is preparing to issue a new tenancy agreement with a fresh compliance statement.
Tenancy Services recommends that at the start of a tenancy landlords include the healthy homes compliance statement and update it with any new information. During regular inspections and at the end of a tenancy, landlords are encouraged to check things like heaters, ventilation systems, insulation condition, gutters, downpipes, drains, ground moisture barriers, draughts, seals and any work needed to maintain the standards.
That does not necessarily mean a full professional reassessment is needed every inspection. But it does mean healthy homes should form part of the landlord’s normal property management routine.
During a tenancy, standards can slip
Healthy homes compliance can change over time.
A property that complied at the start of the tenancy may later fall short if something stops working or is not maintained. For example:
- an extractor fan may fail or become ineffective;
- gutters and downpipes may become blocked or damaged;
- insulation may become wet, displaced or damaged;
- draught-stopping seals may deteriorate;
- drainage issues may appear after storms or ground movement;
- heating may no longer be adequate if changes are made to the property.
The Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to provide and maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair and to comply with the healthy homes standards. Failure to meet obligations relating to maintenance or healthy homes is an unlawful act, with maximum exemplary damages of $7,200 listed in Schedule 1A.
What recent Tribunal orders show
Recent Tenancy Tribunal orders are a useful reminder that healthy homes issues are not treated as minor paperwork problems.
In a 2026 order, the landlord relied on an earlier healthy homes report, but a later assessment obtained by the tenant found non-compliance with drainage and draught stopping. The Tribunal noted that, for healthy homes, it was arguable that landlords must ensure premises comply at all times, even if the problem was not obvious or had not been brought to their attention. The landlord was not ordered to pay exemplary damages in that case, but compensation and the cost of the healthy homes report were awarded.
In another Tribunal order, the property was found not to comply with healthy homes requirements relating to insulation and drainage, and there were wider maintenance issues including a roof leak, weatherboards, a garage door and lighting. The Tribunal ordered the landlord to pay $9,220.44 immediately, including $4,000 compensation, $4,500 exemplary damages for healthy homes and failure to maintain, and $700 exemplary damages for an incorrect healthy homes compliance statement. The rent was also reduced by $50 per week until the work orders were complied with.
The lesson is not that every issue will lead to a Tribunal claim. The lesson is that records, inspections, maintenance and updated compliance information matter.
A practical approach for landlords
A sensible approach is to treat healthy homes as part of ongoing property management, not as a document that sits in a folder.
At minimum, landlords should:
- keep the original healthy homes assessment, heating calculation and supporting records;
- check the key healthy homes items during routine inspections;
- record maintenance, repairs, photos and dates;
- update the compliance statement when new information is available;
- review the property before signing a new tenancy agreement;
- consider a reassessment between tenancies, especially if the last assessment is old or the property has changed;
- reassess sooner if there have been leaks, drainage issues, renovations, heating changes, insulation work, ventilation issues or tenant reports of damp, cold or draughts.
Landlords must also keep records that show how they are complying with the healthy homes standards, and tenants can request healthy homes compliance information, which must be provided within 21 days.
Need a fresh set of eyes?
To help landlords stay on top of their obligations, myRent has partnered with Healthy Homes NZ.
For myRent customers, Healthy Homes NZ can provide a reassessment for $139 +GST, where the property has been assessed previously and there is an existing heating calculation available. This is a practical way to check whether your property still reflects the information you are relying on before issuing a new tenancy agreement or signing a compliance statement. Interested? Enquire today.
The information contained in this article is exclusively for promotional purposes. It does not in any way constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any legal action or contractual dealings. The information is not and does not attempt to be, a comprehensive account of the relevant law in New Zealand. If you require legal advice, you should seek independent legal counsel. myRent.co.nz does not accept any liability that may arise from the use of this information.
