How to Plan for the Healthy Homes Standards
An earlier guide to preparing for the Healthy Homes standards.
From the archive. Originally published 20 October 2021; wording and factual corrections reviewed 5 November 2026. Check current Tenancy Services guidance before acting on a specific property or tenancy.
Healthy Homes compliance is now an ongoing management responsibility. Owners should know what the property’s assessment records, what work has been completed and whether anything has changed since the last check.
What do the Healthy Homes standards cover?
The standards set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping.
Check the property, not just the paperwork
An assessment is useful evidence, but a later fault still needs attention. A failed extractor fan, blocked drainage or a change to heating should be checked against the property’s requirements.
The compliance deadline has passed
All private rentals had to comply by 1 July 2025, unless an exemption applies. The 90-day rule described in the original 2021 article was part of the earlier transition and is not a new compliance allowance today.
Check Tenancy Services’ compliance guidance and keep evidence of the property’s position.
How to manage the work and keep records
1. Identify outstanding work
Identify what is already compliant and what remains unresolved. Arrange outstanding work promptly and agree who will confirm completion. Do not rely on a booked job as proof that the work has been done.
2. Check the requirements
Use the official standards and the property’s assessment to establish what is required. Where an exemption is relied on, keep the supporting evidence and check that it still applies.
3. Use the right expertise
Use an appropriately experienced assessor or relevant tradesperson where the requirement or remedy is unclear. Ask for a written explanation of any shortfall and the work needed; a trade qualification alone does not establish that every Healthy Homes requirement has been checked.
4. Compare the options
Compare suitable options by installation cost, maintenance and expected service life. Confirm that the chosen solution meets the property’s requirements before approving it. The cheapest quote may leave necessary work outside its scope.
5. Agree the work and completion date
Record the agreed scope, contractor, access arrangements and expected completion date. Follow up on unfinished work and obtain the evidence needed to close the job.
6. Keep the supporting records
Retain relevant assessments, invoices, photographs and other evidence of compliance. Keep the required compliance statement current. Tenants can request compliance information, which landlords must provide within 21 days.
