What the self-check does
Each question is something you can answer by looking, touching or checking a label: is there a fixed heater in the living room, does the bathroom fan vent outside, can a $2 coin slip into a gap under the door. When an answer points to a likely gap, the result says what it means and the usual next step, with a link to the page that explains that standard.
Several questions are about paperwork rather than hardware, such as whether you know the insulation's R-value or each fan's size. That is deliberate. The compliance statement in every new, renewed or varied tenancy agreement asks for those facts, so a missing figure is a real gap even when the house itself is fine.
What it does not do
- It does not calculate your required heating capacity. Only the official heating assessment tool, the formula in the regulations, or a qualified specialist does that.
- It cannot see inside walls, ceilings or subfloors you have not checked, and it cannot judge whether an exemption applies to you.
- It is not a certificate. There is no official Healthy Homes certificate, and a clean result is your own view of your own house.
How to use the result
- Start with anything that affects health and safety or is quick to fix, such as a dead fan or a draughty door.
- Book professionals for the bigger items: heating, insulation, ground moisture barriers.
- Keep the evidence as each item is fixed: invoices, specifications and dated photos.
- Run the self-check again once the work is done, then fill in your compliance statement.
The printable checklist covers the same ground in more detail if you prefer paper.
When to get an assessor
A professional Healthy Homes assessment is worth paying for when the answer is not obvious: a heater close to the required capacity, insulation you cannot safely reach, an enclosed subfloor with poor access, or a room without the windows the standard expects. It is also worth having before you buy a rental, or when you take over a property with no records. Ask for a written report with measurements and photos, and keep it with the property's records.
Common questions
Is this the same as a Healthy Homes assessment?
No. A professional assessment involves someone measuring the house and producing a report. This self-check helps you find likely gaps yourself and decide whether you need one.
I answered yes to everything. Am I compliant?
Probably in good shape, but not proven. A clean result means you found no likely gaps in what you checked. Compliance rests on the facts and your records, such as the heating tool result and insulation R-values, so make sure those are filed.
Can tenants use the self-check?
Yes. The questions work for anyone in the house. A tenant who finds a likely gap can raise it with the landlord in writing.
Related guides
More free tools
- Compliance statement builderFill in each standard and print a Healthy Homes compliance statement for your tenancy agreement. No account needed.
- Healthy Homes checklistA printable room-by-room checklist for all five standards, with the records worth keeping.
- Rental inspection checklistA printable room-by-room checklist for routine inspections, with the notice rules that come first.
- Entry noticeFill in the details and print a written notice of entry for an inspection or repairs.
Official sources
- Tenancy Services: The healthy homes standards checklist (PDF)
- Tenancy Services: Heating standard
- Tenancy Services: Heating assessment tool
- Tenancy Services: Insulation standard
- Tenancy Services: Ventilation standard
- Tenancy Services: Moisture ingress and drainage standard
- Tenancy Services: Draught stopping standard
- Tenancy Services: Healthy homes compliance
Rules checked against official sources on 23 September 2026. This is general information for NZ landlords and tenants, not legal advice. For the current rules, see tenancy.govt.nz.