What Are the Healthy Home Standards
The New Zealand Healthy Home Standards were introduced by the Government to improve the quality of housing, especially in rental properties. Cold, damp homes have long been a problem in New Zealand, with many families living in older houses that are hard to heat, poorly insulated, and prone to mould and moisture. These conditions are linked to a range of health problems, including asthma, respiratory infections and long-term illness.
The Healthy Home Standards set minimum requirements for five key areas that have the biggest impact on the warmth, dryness, and overall health of a home. These areas are heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. Landlords are legally required to make sure their rental properties meet these standards.
For homeowners, while the standards aren’t mandatory, they still provide a useful guide to what makes a home healthy and energy efficient. Let’s take a closer look at each part of the Healthy Home Standards and what they mean in practice.
Insulation
Insulation is one of the most effective ways to keep heat in during winter and out during summer. The Healthy Home Standards require ceiling and underfloor insulation in rental homes, and that this insulation meets minimum R-value requirements. If existing insulation is old, damaged or not up to standard, it must be topped up or replaced.
Even if your home already has some insulation, it’s worth checking whether it’s still doing the job. Many older homes in New Zealand were built before insulation was required, and adding or upgrading insulation can have a huge impact on indoor comfort and power bills.
Ventilation
Good ventilation helps remove moisture and stale air from the home, which reduces the risk of mould and damp. Under the standards, rental homes must have extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and all rooms must have windows or doors that open to the outside for fresh air.
If your home feels stuffy or you notice condensation on the windows, it might not be getting enough airflow. Proper ventilation makes a big difference, especially in areas like Taranaki where wet weather and seasonal humidity are common.
Heating
The standard requires that the main living area of a rental home has a fixed heating device that can heat the room to at least 18°C on a cold winter’s day. This is the temperature recommended by the World Health Organization for healthy indoor living. Heat pumps are one of the most common and efficient ways to meet this requirement, but other approved fixed heating options can be used as well.
For homeowners, installing a reliable heating system in the living room is a great starting point for improving comfort. Even with a good heater, though, warmth can be lost quickly if other parts of the home aren’t well insulated or ventilated.
Moisture and Drainage
Homes must have efficient drainage systems to deal with rainwater, including gutters, downpipes, and drains. If there’s a subfloor space under the house, a ground moisture barrier may be required to stop rising damp.
This part of the standard is often overlooked, but it plays an important role in keeping the whole home dry. Too much moisture in the air can damage building materials, lead to mould, and increase the workload for your heating system.
Draught Stopping
Finally, the standards require that any unnecessary gaps or holes that cause draughts are sealed. This includes gaps around doors, windows, floorboards, or unused chimneys. Small fixes can make a big difference when it comes to holding in heat.
A home that’s well sealed will stay warmer for longer and cost less to heat, whether you’re using a heat pump, wood burner or other heating system.