5.2 Ground moisture barrier
A building consent is not required for the installation of a ground moisture barrier in an existing building.
What the law says
Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004
Exemption 13A. Ground moisture barrier
Building work in connection with the installation in an existing building's subfloor space of a ground moisture barrier.
The Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019 — legislation.govt.nz, which came into force on 1 July 2019, set minimum requirements for rental properties in relation to heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught-stopping.
This includes a requirement that all residential rental premises with enclosed subfloor spaces must have ground moisture barriers installed in those spaces where reasonably practicable.
The regulations provided a transitional period to give landlords time to comply with the new standards:
This includes a requirement that all residential rental premises with enclosed subfloor spaces must have ground moisture barriers installed in those spaces where reasonably practicable.
The regulations provided a transitional period to give landlords time to comply with the new standards:
- 1 July 2021 – Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy.
- 1 July 2021 – All boarding houses must comply
- 1 July 2024 – All Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) houses and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the healthy homes standards.
- 1 July 2025 – All private rental homes must comply.
Healthy homes compliance — tenancy.govt.nz
What is exempt
- The subfloor space within an existing house is being retrofitted with a ground moisture barrier.
What needs consent
- A ground moisture barrier is to be installed within the subfloor space of a new house under construction.