Heat pumps in rentals: meeting the Healthy Homes heating standard

The Healthy Homes Standards set minimum rules for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and draughts in New Zealand rental homes. A heat pump is the most common way landlords meet the heating standard. This guide explains what the standard requires, how to size a heat pump that complies, and what tenants can do if a rental falls short. It is general information, so check Tenancy Services for your situation.

What does the Healthy Homes heating standard require?

Landlords must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room to at least 18°C. The main living room is the largest room used for everyday living, such as a lounge, family room or dining room. Heaters must be fixed rather than portable and have at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity.

• Acceptable heaters include heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners and flued gas heaters.
• A heat pump or electric heater must have a thermostat.
• Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters, do not count.
• If the main living room needs more than 2.4 kW, an electric heater other than a heat pump cannot be used, unless it tops up qualifying heating installed before 1 July 2019.

That 2.4 kW rule is why heat pumps are so common in rentals. Most living rooms need more than 2.4 kW, which rules out a simple fixed panel heater, and a heat pump is usually cheaper to install than a flued gas heater or a wood burner.

How do I work out what size heat pump a rental needs?

Use the Tenancy Services Heating Assessment Tool. It asks for the room's dimensions, window sizes, insulation and location, then produces a report showing the minimum heating capacity required. Keep the report: it is part of your evidence that the home complies.

There are two other options. The regulations include formulas that a professional can work through by hand, and a chartered engineer or equivalent specialist can assess a property. Tenancy Services notes that a different tool may underestimate the required capacity, so the official tool is the safer choice for most landlords. Homes built or renovated to the 2008 Building Code insulation standards use a newer formula that often allows a smaller heater.

When did rentals have to comply?

From 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the Healthy Homes Standards. Kāinga Ora and registered community housing providers had to comply by 1 July 2024, and boarding houses by 1 July 2021. New and renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed statement about the property's compliance.

Tenancy Services says landlords who do not meet the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and may face financial penalties of up to $7,200. Leaving the compliance statement out of a tenancy agreement can bring a penalty of up to $500 per tenancy. Landlords must also give tenants compliance records within 21 days of a request.

What should landlords check before installing a heat pump?

1. Run the Heating Assessment Tool and save the report.
2. Get written quotes that state the model number and its rated heating capacity in kW. See how to compare heat pump quotes.
3. Confirm the heat pump has a thermostat (almost all do) and is installed as a fixed unit in, or directly heating, the main living room.
4. In an apartment or unit title property, get body corporate approval before any work on exterior walls or common property. See noise, placement and council rules.
5. Keep the invoice and the electrical Certificate of Compliance with your healthy homes records.

Can a landlord get a Warmer Kiwi Homes grant for a rental?

Generally no. EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes heat pump grant is for people who own and live in their home, and it has income and property criteria. Landlords meet Healthy Homes obligations at their own cost. Check the current rules on EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes page, as eligibility can change. Our Warmer Kiwi Homes guide covers what owner-occupiers can claim.

What can tenants do if the rental has no proper heating?

Start by asking the landlord for the healthy homes compliance statement and records, which they must provide within 21 days. If the main living room has no qualifying fixed heater, raise it in writing. If that does not resolve it, Tenancy Services has guidance on next steps, including applying to the Tenancy Tribunal. Tenants should not install a heat pump themselves without written permission.