Phone 032 606 888
Phone 032 606 888
Protect your rental property, your tenants, and your investment with a thorough Healthy Homes Standards inspection.
Landlords are legally required to ensure all rental homes meet the Healthy Homes Standards. Non-compliance can lead to fines, disputes at the Tenancy Tribunal, and difficulty renting the property.
HouseTest provides independent, detailed assessments to help you achieve — and prove — full compliance.
The standards cover five key areas designed to make rental homes warmer, drier, and healthier:
Heating
The main living room must have a fixed heating device capable of heating the room to at least 18°C on the coldest day. Many older heaters no longer meet the efficiency, affordability, or health requirements.
Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet the minimum requirements of the 2008 Building Code — or, for existing ceiling insulation, have a minimum thickness of 120mm and be in good condition (no dampness, damage, or sagging).
Ventilation & Extraction
Every habitable room needs openable windows that make up at least 5% of the floor area. Kitchens with cooktops and bathrooms with showers or baths require appropriately sized extractor fans or rangehoods.
Draught Stopping
All unreasonable gaps, holes, or cracks in walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors must be sealed. Unused fireplaces and chimneys must also be effectively blocked to prevent draughts.
Moisture Ingress & Drainage
The property must have effective drainage and guttering to remove stormwater, surface water, and groundwater. Enclosed subfloor spaces require a ground moisture barrier to prevent damp rising into the home.
We use the same thorough approach as our pre-purchase inspections — checking subfloors, roof spaces, and hard-to-reach areas where issues often hide.
The final deadline for all private rental properties was 1 July 2025. All rentals must now fully comply with the Healthy Homes Standards, regardless of when the tenancy started. A compliance statement is required in every new, varied, or renewed tenancy agreement.
Exemptions exist in very limited situations (e.g., properties scheduled for demolition/renovation or specific access issues). These are tightly defined — we recommend checking your eligibility on the official site or speaking with us.
Pricing starts from $262 plus gst (depending on property size and whether combined with a maintenance inspection).
We offer fast turnaround and same/next-day availability across Dunedin, Balclutha, Gore, and surrounding Otago areas.
Ready to get compliant and gain peace of mind?
HouseTest – Independent | Thorough | Plain English Reports 1000+ inspections completed | Fully registered & insured
