Compliant but Still Cold? Why Healthy Homes Standards Don’t Guarantee Comfort
As of 1 July 2025, all rental homes in New Zealand must comply with the Healthy Homes Standards. This includes requirements for heating, ventilation, moisture management, insulation, and draught stopping. While these regulations are a critical step forward in improving housing quality, they still only scratch the surface of what makes a home truly healthy and comfortable.
At BEO Buildingscience, we regularly assess homes that technically comply with the Healthy Homes Standards but are still uncomfortable, damp, draughty, or hard to heat. Why? Because compliance is the minimum — and when it comes to building performance, minimum doesn't mean optimal.
In this post, we unpack the gap between compliance and comfort, and show how an integrated building science approach provides real solutions that benefit landlords, tenants, and homeowners alike.
Understanding the Healthy Homes Standards: What Do They Cover?
The Healthy Homes Standards were introduced to improve rental housing in New Zealand. They cover five key areas:
Heating
Main living rooms must have a fixed heater capable of maintaining 18°C.
Insulation
Ceiling and underfloor insulation must meet minimum R-values for the region.
Ventilation
Windows must open in key rooms, and extractor fans must be installed in kitchens and bathrooms.
Moisture Ingress and Drainage
Properties must have effective drainage, and enclosed subfloors require ground moisture barriers.
Draught Stopping
Landlords must block up gaps or holes that create noticeable draughts.
While these standards address major contributors to unhealthy housing, they were never intended to deliver high-performance comfort levels. They focus on symptom control, not root causes.
The Comfort Gap: When Compliance Isn’t Enough
Compliant Properties That Still Feel Cold
We regularly encounter compliant homes that still experience:
Condensation on windows and walls
Mould growth in bathrooms and bedrooms
Uneven temperatures throughout the house
Skyrocketing power bills despite "efficient" systems
These issues arise because the standards rely on static assumptions and do not evaluate the actual performance of the home in real-world conditions.
Why This Happens
Generic heating calculators assume airtightness levels that most homes do not achieve.
Extractor fans are often undersized or poorly installed.
Insulation may be present but poorly fitted or thermally bridged.
No assessment of ventilation effectiveness, solar gains, shading, or user behaviour.
In other words, compliance is often achieved on paper — but the lived experience tells a different story.
Why Building Science Goes Beyond the Checklist
At BEO Buildingscience, we specialise in identifying the actual performance issues that affect comfort, moisture, air quality, and energy use. Our assessments go beyond ticking boxes:
We Measure, Not Guess
Blower Door Testing: Identifies air leakage pathways that affect heat loss and ventilation.
Thermal Imaging: Locates thermal bridges and insulation defects.
Hygrothermal Modelling (WUFI): Predicts moisture behaviour in walls, roofs, and floors.
Ventilation Flow Testing: Verifies whether fans are delivering what they promise.
We Integrate H1, G4, and E3
H1 (Energy Efficiency): Looks at how much energy a home needs to stay warm.
G4 (Ventilation): Ensures adequate fresh air without causing heat loss.
E3 (Moisture Control): Manages condensation, damp, and mould risk.
Compliance standards look at each area in isolation. We bring them together for a cohesive, evidence-based strategy.
Common Compliance Myths That Lead to Poor Outcomes
Myth 1: "If the heater meets the calculator, the room will be warm"
The calculator assumes a certain airtightness level, which many older NZ homes do not meet. If your home is leaky, the heater will never reach or maintain 18°C without excessive running time and cost.
Myth 2: "Extractor fans fix moisture issues"
Fans that are too small, noisy, or poorly located are rarely used. Some aren’t ducted outside. Others operate on timers that are too short. Without sufficient airflow, moisture builds up, even if you tick the G4 box.
Myth 3: "Insulation = warm house"
Insulation values are often based on the product’s rating, not how it’s installed. Gaps, compression, and thermal bridging drastically reduce effectiveness. We often find "compliant" ceilings losing 30–50% more heat than expected.
Why Landlords and Homeowners Should Aim Higher
Better Comfort = Better Tenants
Tenants are more likely to stay longer, pay reliably, and take care of a home that’s warm, dry, and comfortable. Higher quality properties attract better tenants and reduce vacancy rates.
Fewer Maintenance Issues
Moisture and poor ventilation lead to mould, rot, and deterioration. Prevention is far cheaper than remediation. A home that breathes well and holds heat effectively is a home that lasts.
Energy Efficiency and Lower Bills
Heating a poorly performing house is expensive. Strategic upgrades to airtightness, ventilation, and insulation improve comfort and reduce running costs — benefits that flow to either tenant or owner-occupier.
What to Expect from a BEO Building Performance Assessment
When you book an assessment with us, we provide a comprehensive review that goes far beyond Healthy Homes compliance.
Our Process Includes:
Initial consultation to understand the property and concerns, Energy Modelling
On-site testing: blower door testing
Clause alignment: H1, G4, and E3 reviewed holistically
Custom report with photos, data, and prioritised upgrade paths
Our recommendations are actionable and practical — whether you need quick fixes or a phased retrofit.
Optional Add-Ons:
Ventilation design and commissioning guidance
blowerdoor testing after upgrades to verify the improvements
How We Help You Get It Right (and Get It Done)
Our team includes certified building scientists, PHI consultants, and airtightness testers. We understand New Zealand’s building stock, climate zones, and compliance framework.
With Us, You:
Avoid costly rework or misdiagnosed problems
Build long-term value, not just short-term compliance
Understand how all the building components interact
Get support from experts who care about real results
We’re independent, evidence-based, and focused on delivering outcomes that feel just as good as they look on paper.
Book Your Building Science Assessment Today
If your rental or home is technically compliant but still uncomfortable, it’s time to dig deeper.
We’ll help you:
Understand what’s really going on
Prioritise high-impact upgrades
Deliver better comfort, efficiency, and health outcomes
Book an Assessment or contact us to chat about your goals.
Let’s make compliance the starting point — not the finish line.
BEO Buildingscience — Because compliance is the minimum. Comfort is the goal.
