1 July 2021 update for the healthy homes standards

The 1st of July is an important date for the healthy homes standards. From this date:

• boarding houses (except those provided by Kāinga Ora or registered Community Housing Providers) must meet the five healthy homes standards.

• private rentals must meet the healthy homes standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancies that start on or after 1 July 2021.

What is a boarding house rental?

A boarding house is where tenants have their own tenancy agreement to rent a single room or sleeping area within a room they share with other tenants. They also share facilities such as the kitchen and bathroom. They are occupied, or intended to be occupied, by at least six tenants at any one time.

What is a private rental?

This is where the rental is for a general tenancy, rather than a boarding house tenancy, and isn’t provided by Kāinga Ora or a registered Community Housing Provider.

Kāinga Ora and registered Community Housing Provider rentals

These rentals, including any of their boarding house rentals, must meet the five healthy homes standards by 1 July 2023.

Important things to know:

1. Variations & extensions of existing tenancy agreements do not activate the 90 day requirement to meet the healthy homes standards

2. all private rentals must meet the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2024.