Healthy Homes for Renters

Your Right to a Warm, Dry Home

As of July 1, 2025, every private rental property in New Zealand must comply with the Healthy Homes Standards. At Ray White Brightside, we believe that a healthy home leads to a happy tenancy. We proactively audit all our Beach Road and North Shore properties to ensure they don’t just meet the bare minimum, but provide a high standard of living for you and your family.

The 5 Standards: What to Look For

When you move into a Brightside-managed property, you can expect these five pillars of health to be in place:

Fixed Heating: You should have a fixed heater (usually a heat pump or flued gas heater) in the main living room capable of keeping the room at 18°C even on the coldest Mairangi Bay nights.
Effective Ventilation: Every kitchen must have an extractor fan that vents outside, and every bathroom must have an extractor fan or an openable window.All bedrooms and living areas must have windows that open.
Quality Insulation: Your home will have ceiling and underfloor insulation (where accessible) that meets the required R-values to keep the warmth in and the damp out.
Moisture & Drainage: The property must have efficient gutters and downpipes.If there is a crawl space under the house, a ground moisture barrier (polythene sheet) should be installed to stop dampness rising.
Draught Stopping: There should be no “unreasonable” gaps in windows, doors, or walls that let in cold air.Unused fireplaces must be blocked or sealed.

Your Role in a Healthy Home

While the landlord provides the infrastructure, healthy living is a partnership. To keep your home mould-free and warm, we recommend:

Ventilate Daily: Open windows for at least 15 minutes a day, even in winter, to let fresh air in and moisture out.
Use Your Fans: Always run the extractor fans when cooking or showering, and leave them running for a few minutes afterwards.
Filter Maintenance: Tenants are responsible for keeping heat pump filters clean. We recommend a quick vacuum of the filters every 3 months to keep the unit running efficiently and lower your power bills.
Report Issues Early: If you notice a fan has stopped working or a new draught has appeared, log it immediately via our Maintenance Portal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Where can I see if my property is compliant?
A: Every tenancy agreement we issue includes a Healthy Homes Compliance Statement. This document details exactly how the property meets each of the five standards. You can also request a copy of the latest compliance report from your property manager at any time.

Q: What should I do if my home feels damp or cold?
A: First, check that your heaters and fans are working correctly. If they are, but the home still feels damp, contact us. There may be a blocked gutter or an insulation issue that needs professional attention. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, you have the right to a prompt remedy for any standard that isn’t being met.

Q: Can a landlord increase my rent specifically to pay for Healthy Homes upgrades?
A: Landlords cannot charge a “Healthy Homes fee.” While rent can be increased according to market conditions (once every 12 months), the cost of bringing a property up to legal compliance is the sole responsibility of the owner.