Healthy Homes Compliance: Why It’s a Win-Win for Landlords

By Sanjay Joy. Published on 21/08/2025.

If you’re a residential landlord in New Zealand, you’ll already know that the Healthy Homes Standards are now a legal requirement for all residential rental properties. These regulations have been introduced to ensure tenants live in warm, dry, and safe homes — and every landlord must comply.

As experienced property managers in Southland, we see first-hand how meeting Healthy Homes compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting your investment, attracting quality tenants, and creating long-term rental success.

What Are the Healthy Homes Standards?

The Healthy Homes Standards cover five key areas every rental property in New Zealand must meet:

1. Heating – A fixed heating device is required to keep the main living room at 18°C or warmer.
2. Insulation – Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet modern standards (or the highest possible level for your property’s design).
3. Ventilation – Kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans, while all living spaces require openable windows.
4. Moisture & Drainage – Rental properties must have proper drainage, gutters, and (where needed) a ground moisture barrier.
5. Draught Stopping – Gaps and draughts that cause heat loss must be blocked.

Invercargill landlords are required to comply, and failing to do so can result in fines and tenancy disputes.

Why Healthy Homes Compliance Benefits Landlords in Southland

From our perspective as Invercargill property managers, compliance creates value for both landlords and tenants:

• Protects your investment – Dry, warm homes suffer less long-term damage from moisture and mould.
• Attracts better tenants – Tenants are actively seeking out compliant homes in Southland, which rent faster and stay tenanted longer.
• Avoids disputes and penalties – Compliance means peace of mind, knowing your property is up to standard and legally sound.
• Improves tenant satisfaction – Warm, dry homes lead to healthier tenants, fewer complaints, and longer tenancy durations.
• Keeps your investment intact – With the deadlines ending in July 2025, your property needs to meet the standard to stay rented.

How Pride Property Makes Compliance Easy

For many landlords, the biggest challenge is keeping up with the technical requirements and deadlines. That’s where professional property management in Southland makes a difference.

At Pride Property, we:

• Ensure that Healthy Homes inspections are done by the appropriate professionals to identify what’s required.
• Organise trusted local tradespeople for insulation, heating, ventilation, and repairs in a timely and cost effective manner.
• Track compliance deadlines to ensure you stay ahead of the law.
• Keep detailed records to protect you in case of disputes.

Our landlords don’t have to stress — we take care of the compliance process from start to finish.

The Bigger Picture for Southland Rentals

While some landlords initially saw the Healthy Homes Standards as extra red tape, the reality is they’ve lifted the quality of rental housing across Southland. A compliant property is more appealing, more durable, more profitable in the long run and more importantly able to stay rented.

For Invercargill, Gore, and Southland landlords, Healthy Homes compliance isn’t just a legal requirement — it’s an investment in your rental’s future success.

If you’re a landlord in Invercargill, Gore or Southland and want help with Healthy Homes compliance, talk to our team at Pride Property today. We’ll ensure your rental is fully compliant, attractive to tenants, and hassle-free to manage.