The heating standard ensures that tenants can keep their homes warm during the winter without relying on inefficient or dangerous portable heaters.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.ratemyflat.co.nz/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
The 18°C rule
Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room to at least 18°C. This temperature must be achievable even on the coldest day of the year. The “main living room” is generally the largest room used for everyday living, such as a lounge or family room. If your home has an open-plan kitchen and lounge, the heater must be sized to heat the entire area to 18°C.What qualifies as a fixed heater
To meet the standard, a heater must be “fixed” (permanently attached to the wall or floor). Acceptable sources include:- Heat pumps: The most common solution for modern NZ homes.
- Flued gas heaters: Heaters that vent combustion gases outside.
- Wood burners or pellet burners: Must meet local clean air council requirements.
- Fixed electric heaters: Only if they have a capacity of at least 1.5 kW and were installed in a home where the required heating capacity is very low (refer to the Tenancy Services Heating Assessment Tool for specific calculations).
What does NOT qualify
The following heating sources cannot be used to meet the Healthy Homes Standard:- Portable electric heaters: Even large “oil column” or fan heaters.
- Open fires: These are inefficient and often create more draughts than heat.
- Unflued gas heaters: Such as portable LPG “cabinet” heaters, which release moisture and toxic gases into the home.
How to check your home
Look at the Healthy Homes Compliance Statement attached to your tenancy agreement. It should state the required heating capacity (in kW) for your living room and the actual capacity of the installed heater.
Ensure the heater is permanently fixed to the structure. If you can unplug it and move it to another room, it doesn’t count.
You can perform your own check using the Tenancy Services Heating Assessment Tool. You will need the measurements of your living room’s walls, windows, and ceiling.
What to do if the home is too cold
If the fixed heater in your home cannot reach 18°C, or if there is no fixed heater at all, the home is non-compliant.- Write to your landlord: Request that they assess the heating capacity.
- 14-day notice to remedy: If they refuse to act, you can issue a formal “14-day notice to remedy,” which gives them two weeks to provide a plan for installation.
- Tenancy Tribunal: If the issue remains unresolved, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. Landlords can be fined up to NZD $7,200 for failing to meet this standard.