What's changed –
The minimum standard for existing insulation for rental properties has changed under the current updates to the Healthy Homes Insulation Standards. This means that some homes that did not require new insulation under the 2016 requirements may require a ceiling insulation ‘top-up’ or new underfloor insulation.
As of 1 July 2021, the following changes take affect for rental properties:
All rental homes to have insulation consistent with the 2008 building code or, for existing insulation it must be at least 120mm thick.
If a home has less than 120mm of ceiling insulation, then this must be topped up, or new insulation to be installed to meet the healthy homes minimum R-value requirements
Ceiling insulation that is less than 120mm thick is acceptable if you can show: the insulation’s R-value met the minimum R-values when it was installed - 2.9 or 3.3 depending on the climate zone, and the insulation’s thickness has not decreased by more than 30% (from the time it was installed)
If the existing underfloor foil insulation is ripped, not shiny or there are gaps, it will need to be replaced with new underfloor insulation that is not foil and meets the minimum R-value
Anyone who installed new insulation to meet the Residential Tenancies (Smoke Alarms and Insulation) Regulations 2016, will likely comply with the Healthy Homes Insulation Standard, provided the insulation remains in a reasonable condition
All private rentals to comply within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy after 1 July 2021
All private rentals to comply by 1 July 2024
All boarding houses must comply by 1 July 2021
All houses rented by Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and registered Community Housing Providers must comply by 1 July 2023
There are exemptions to the above updates, these are -
Properties which are sold and immediately rented back to the former owner-occupier for a period of up to 12 months
Properties where the landlord intends to demolish the property or substantially rebuild parts of the property and has applied for the relevant resource consent or building consent before the healthy homes compliance date
If the landlord doesn’t own the whole of the tenancy building - the landlord will need to take all reasonable steps, such as liaise with the owners to ensure compliance
Where work may be impracticable or unsafe to access due to their design, limited access, potential for damage, or health and safety reasons
Areas of the ceilings or floors where directly above or below there are habitable spaces
If the rental home has existing underfloor insulation that was installed when the home was built or converted and you have a copy of any compliance documents, providing the insulation remains in a reasonable condition
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