Quarter of Tenancy Tribunal Applications Involve Healthy Homes Concerns
Quarter of Tenancy Tribunal Applications Involve Healthy Homes Concerns
A significant portion of disputes brought before New Zealand's Tenancy Tribunal now relate to Healthy Homes standards, according to the latest annual report. About a quarter of all tenant applications to the Tenancy Tribunal involve concerns over compliance with these standards, which set minimum requirements for heating, ventilation, and insulation in rental properties.
In 2024, the Tenancy Tribunal received a total of 29,309 applications — a 14% increase compared to the previous year and a 43% increase since 2022. Of these, 66% were related to rent arrears, while tenants most frequently sought the recovery of their bond, damages for landlords breaching their obligations, or enforcement of Healthy Homes compliance.
Since July 2024, all rental properties in the country have been required to meet Healthy Homes standards. This has given tenants the right to bring concerns about non-compliance to the Tenancy Tribunal. In 2024, there were 1,412 applications related to Healthy Homes concerns, and this number dropped slightly to 1,394 in the 2025 financial year.
Economist Ed McKnight from Opes Partners noted that while the number of Healthy Homes-related complaints may seem high, it only affects about 0.2% of the 600,000 rental properties in New Zealand. He emphasized that this indicates property investors have generally taken the new regulations seriously.
However, not all industry commentators are convinced that the situation is fully under control. Matt Ball, a spokesperson for the NZ Property Investors Federation, stated that the number of applications should decrease now that all properties are required to meet Healthy Homes standards. But Sarina Gibbon, general manager of the Auckland Property Investors Association, raised concerns about a potential lack of understanding among both tenants and landlords regarding the standards.
Gibbon described the power imbalance in tenancy relationships as a major issue, stating that tenants are often given minimal tools to challenge landlords. She also highlighted the prevalence of misinformation in the housing market, which is concerning for both tenants and landlords.
Ball pointed out that the overall increase in tribunal applications may also be due to a growing number of people renting. Active bonds increased by 13% from the start of 2020 to the end of 2024, while tribunal applications rose by 31% over the same period. He also noted that the Tenancy Tribunal has introduced faster and more affordable dispute resolution options, such as fast-track resolution and mediation, which have contributed to a decrease in the number of full hearings required.
In 2024, residential tenancy tribunal hearings were conducted on average just under 10 weeks after filing, a slight improvement in processing times.
As the housing market continues to evolve, the role of the Tenancy Tribunal in ensuring that both tenants and landlords understand and comply with Healthy Homes standards remains crucial. With more tenants aware of their rights and more landlords adhering to the regulations, the hope is that the number of disputes will continue to decrease in the coming years.
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