Healthy Homes Checklist NZ: Every Standard in One List

A Working Checklist, Not Just a Summary

Tenancy Services publishes a six-page checklist that defines the five standards in general terms. It tells you what the rules are but not how to audit and document your property against them. The checklist below adds the specific measurements, thresholds, and evidence items that the Tenancy Tribunal looks for when assessing compliance.

Work through it room by room, standard by standard, and note where you have evidence and where you have gaps.

Heating Standard

• [ ] Identify the main living room (the single largest living space)
• [ ] Check the fixed heater type — must be a heat pump, wood burner, flued gas heater, or qualifying direct-wired electric heater with thermostat
• [ ] Confirm no prohibited heaters are the sole source: no portable plug-in heaters, no unflued gas (LPG cabinet) heaters, no open fires, no unthermostatted electric heaters
• [ ] Run the MBIE Heating Assessment Tool with room dimensions, ceiling height, insulation type, window area, and your territorial external temperature
• [ ] Compare the tool's required kW output against your heater's rated capacity (check the rating plate)
• [ ] If an existing qualifying heater was installed before 1 July 2019 and the required capacity exceeds 2.4 kW, the 80% tolerance rule applies — total capacity must be at least 80% of the calculated requirement
• [ ] Save the Heating Assessment Tool report as PDF evidence
• [ ] If upgrading, retain the EWRB-registered installer's details and electrical safety certificate

Insulation Standard

• [ ] Identify your property's climate zone (Zone 1: upper North Island; Zone 2: central/lower North Island; Zone 3: Central Plateau and all South Island)
• [ ] Check ceiling insulation: minimum R 2.9 (Zones 1–2) or R 3.3 (Zone 3)
• [ ] Check underfloor insulation: minimum R 1.3 (all zones)
• [ ] Pre-1 July 2016 ceiling insulation: acceptable if at least 120 mm thick and in reasonable condition; thinner insulation may qualify if records show it met the zone R-value when installed and has not degraded by more than 30%
• [ ] Confirm insulation is dry, continuous, free of mould, pest damage, or displacement
• [ ] If foil underfloor insulation is present: it cannot be repaired — if damaged or incomplete, replace with bulk thermal insulation meeting R 1.3
• [ ] Photograph insulation showing depth, condition, and coverage
• [ ] Retain installer invoices and product R-value labels

Ventilation Standard

• [ ] Every liveable room (bedroom, living, dining, kitchen): openable windows, doors, or skylights totalling at least 5% of the room's floor area
• [ ] All openable windows and doors must be capable of being fixed in an open position
• [ ] Kitchen with cooktop: mechanical extraction fan with at least 150 mm ducting and 50 L/s airflow (for systems installed after 1 July 2019)
• [ ] Bathroom with bath or shower: mechanical extraction fan with at least 120 mm ducting and 25 L/s airflow (post-1 July 2019)
• [ ] Confirm extraction vents directly outdoors — not into the roof space, subfloor, or wall cavity
• [ ] Recirculating rangehoods and unvented positive-pressure systems (HRV/DVS ceiling units) do not satisfy the standard
• [ ] Pre-1 July 2019 fans: no minimum diameter specified, but must be in good working order and vent outdoors
• [ ] Retain fan specifications, installer flow test results, and ducting diameter receipts

Moisture Ingress and Drainage

• [ ] Gutters, downpipes, and discharge drains: clear, undamaged, and connected
• [ ] Enclosed subfloor: ground moisture barrier (heavy-duty polythene) installed to NZS 4246:2016
• [ ] Polythene sheets: continuously laid, overlapped by at least 75 mm, taped at seams and perimeter piles
• [ ] Photograph the installed barrier and retain any drainlayer sign-offs

Draught Stopping

• [ ] Seal unreasonable gaps and holes in walls, ceilings, windows, doors, and floors
• [ ] Open fireplaces: permanently blocked or fitted with a draught stopper (unless the tenant requests in writing that it remain open and the landlord agrees)
• [ ] Never seal safety ventilation vents — passive combustion air vents for flued gas heaters and mandatory bathroom air bricks must stay open

Compliance Statement and Records

• [ ] Complete Form HHS-8113 covering all five standards for your property
• [ ] Attach the signed statement to every new, renewed, or varied tenancy agreement
• [ ] Maintain your evidence file for the tenancy duration plus 12 months
• [ ] Be prepared to respond to a tenant's written information request within 21 calendar days

The NZ Healthy Homes compliance guide includes a printable version of this checklist with the filing structure for organising every piece of evidence by standard.

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