Disclaimer:
This article provides general information about Healthy Homes ventilation standards. Requirements may change, and specific situations may vary. Always verify current requirements with Tenancy Services or seek professional advice for your property.
⚠️ Compliance Deadline Has Passed
As of 1 July 2025, all rental properties in New Zealand must comply with the Healthy Homes ventilation standard. This deadline applied to all private rentals, regardless of when the tenancy began. If your property is not yet compliant, you are at risk of Tenancy Tribunal claims and penalties. Take action immediately to meet the requirements below.
Key Takeaways
- All rental properties must now comply — the 1 July 2025 deadline has passed.
- All habitable rooms must have openable windows or doors with a total area of at least 5% of the floor area.
- Kitchens and bathrooms require extractor fans that vent to outside, not just into the ceiling space.
- Extractor fans must have minimum extraction rates of 50 litres per second for kitchens and 25 litres per second for bathrooms.
- Landlords must provide a ventilation statement to tenants within 21 days of a new or renewed tenancy.
- Non-compliance can result in penalties of up to $7,200 per breach through the Tenancy Tribunal.
Good ventilation is essential for healthy rental properties. The Healthy Homes Standards set minimum requirements for ventilation that all landlords must meet. Understanding these requirements helps you stay compliant and provide a healthier home for your tenants.
The ventilation standard is one of five components of the Healthy Homes Standards, alongside heating, insulation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. Adequate ventilation removes moisture, odours, and pollutants from indoor air, reducing the risk of mould growth and respiratory issues.
Window and Door Ventilation Requirements
The primary ventilation requirement focuses on openable windows and doors. Each habitable room must have windows, doors, or skylights that open to the outside with a combined area of at least 5% of the floor area.
Example Calculation:
- Room floor area: 12 square metres
- Minimum openable area: 12 × 0.05 = 0.6 square metres
- Equivalent: A window opening of 60cm × 100cm
Habitable rooms include living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and any other rooms where people spend extended periods. Bathrooms, laundries, toilets, garages, and hallways are not considered habitable rooms, though they have separate ventilation requirements.
Extractor Fan Requirements
Kitchens, bathrooms, and any rooms with showers or baths must have extractor fans. These fans must vent directly to the outside of the building, not into the roof space, subfloor, or another room.
Kitchen Extractor Fans
Kitchen extractor fans must have a minimum extraction rate of 50 litres per second. The fan can be a rangehood or a separate ceiling or wall-mounted extractor. If using a rangehood, it must have ducting that vents to outside rather than a recirculating filter.
Bathroom and Shower Room Extractor Fans
Bathrooms require extractor fans with a minimum extraction rate of 25 litres per second. This applies to any room containing a shower or bath, regardless of whether it also contains a toilet.
Compliance Tip:
When purchasing extractor fans, check the specifications for the extraction rate in litres per second (L/s) or cubic metres per hour (m³/h). To convert: 50 L/s = 180 m³/h for kitchens; 25 L/s = 90 m³/h for bathrooms.
When Extractor Fans Are Not Required
There are limited exemptions from the extractor fan requirement. If a kitchen or bathroom has an openable window with an area of at least 10% of the room's floor area, an extractor fan is not mandatory. However, installing extractor fans is still recommended as it provides better moisture control.
This exemption only applies if the window opens directly to the outside, not into a conservatory, garage, or enclosed space.
Open Plan Living Areas
For open plan spaces that combine kitchen, dining, and living areas, the ventilation requirements apply to the combined space. The openable window area must be at least 5% of the total combined floor area.
The kitchen extractor fan requirement still applies separately to the cooking area, regardless of whether it is part of an open plan space.
Practical Solutions for Compliance
Installing Extractor Fans
If your property lacks compliant extractor fans, installation is usually straightforward. Wall-mounted fans are often the simplest option, requiring only a hole through the exterior wall and electrical connection. Ceiling-mounted fans require ducting through the roof space to an external vent.
Professional installation ensures compliance and proper sealing to prevent draughts when the fan is not operating. Many electricians can complete a bathroom fan installation in one to two hours.
Improving Window Ventilation
If existing windows do not meet the 5% requirement, options include replacing windows with larger openable sections, adding additional windows, or installing ventilation louvres. Any modifications must comply with the Building Code, so consult with a building professional before making changes.
Documentation and Compliance Statements
Landlords must include a ventilation statement in tenancy agreements, confirming that the property meets the ventilation standard. This statement must be provided within 21 days of a new tenancy commencing or a fixed-term tenancy being renewed.
Related: Complete Guide to Healthy Homes Standards
Penalties for Non-Compliance
If your property does not meet the ventilation standard, tenants can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for compliance orders and compensation. The Tribunal can order landlords to carry out work within a specified timeframe and award exemplary damages of up to $7,200.
Beyond legal penalties, poor ventilation leads to moisture problems, mould growth, and tenant health issues, which can result in damage claims and difficulty retaining quality tenants.
Tenant Responsibilities
While landlords must provide adequate ventilation, tenants have responsibilities too. They should use extractor fans when cooking and bathing, open windows regularly to air the property, and not block or disable ventilation systems.
Including guidance about using ventilation in your tenancy agreement or welcome pack helps tenants understand their role in maintaining a healthy home.
Related: Moisture and Drainage Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a recirculating rangehood instead of one that vents outside?
No. Recirculating rangehoods filter grease and odours but do not remove moisture from the air. To comply with the ventilation standard, kitchen extractor fans must vent to outside the building.
Do I need extractor fans in toilets that do not have a shower or bath?
The Healthy Homes Standards do not specifically require extractor fans in toilets without showers or baths. However, if the toilet lacks an openable window, installing an extractor fan is good practice for odour control and tenant comfort.
What if my property has a heat recovery ventilation system?
Whole-house ventilation systems can count towards compliance if they provide adequate air changes for each room. Check the system specifications against the standard requirements and ensure it is maintained and operational.
How do I measure the openable window area?
Measure the actual opening when the window is fully open, not the total window frame size. For awning or casement windows, measure the gap created when open. For sliding windows, measure the opening created when slid fully open.
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