Can landlords get a grant to meet the Healthy Homes Standards?
No direct government grant exists for landlords to cover Healthy Homes compliance costs. The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, run by EECA, is restricted to owner-occupied main residences. Landlords cannot apply for a rental property, even where the tenant holds a Community Services Card.

‍Is Warmer Kiwi Homes available for rental properties?
No. Warmer Kiwi Homes funds ceiling and underfloor insulation, and approved heating, but only for homes the applicant owns and lives in. The scheme treats rental property upgrades as a landlord's legal obligation rather than a hardship to subsidise.

‍Who pays for Healthy Homes Standards compliance, the landlord or the government?
The landlord. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, meeting the Healthy Homes Standards is a legal requirement on the property owner. There is no government cost-share for landlords, and the compliance deadline for all rental tenancies in NZ has already passed.

‍Are there loans available to landlords for Healthy Homes upgrades?
Some banks offer green home improvement loans, including ANZ's Good Energy loan and ASB's Better Homes Top Up, both up to $80,000, and Westpac's Warm Up loan up to $40,000. These attach to an existing home loan with that bank, and landlords should confirm with the lender whether a rental property qualifies.

‍Do councils offer grants or interest-free loans for landlord compliance?
Auckland Council's Retrofit Your Home scheme closed to new applicants in 2020 and Council has confirmed it will not reopen, so it only continues to service existing loan holders. Other councils have run similar targeted rate schemes in the past. Landlords should check directly with their local council, as availability changes and is not consistent nationwide.

‍What happens if a landlord cannot afford Healthy Homes compliance?
There is no formal exemption for cost. Non-compliance is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, with penalties of up to $7,200 per breach through the Tenancy Tribunal. Landlords facing cost barriers are generally better served checking bank or council finance options than delaying the work.

‍Can tenants get financial help if their landlord hasn't met Healthy Homes Standards?
Tenants themselves cannot access Warmer Kiwi Homes to fix a landlord's property, since the scheme requires owner-occupancy.