When is a bedroom not a bedroom?

In New Zealand, not every room with a bed in it can legally be called a bedroom.

There are a number of rules that determine whether a room can be marketed as a bedroom. These sit mainly under the Housing Improvement Regulations and the Building Act, along with council consent requirements.

Here is the simplified version of the key things that generally need to apply:

Natural light & ventilation
There must be a window to the outside providing natural light and ventilation.

Minimum size
The room typically needs to be at least 6m² and around 1.8m wide.

Ceiling height
The ceiling generally needs to be about 2.4m high, with reasonable headroom across most of the room.

Council consent
Most importantly, the room must be legally consented as a habitable space. Conversions from garages, basements or other areas without council approval cannot legally be marketed as bedrooms.

There are other more specific requirements as well, but the above provides a practical overview of the key principles.

A room might be used as a bedroom…
but that doesn’t always mean it legally is one.

If you’d like to know more about this — or any of the other important rules and regulations around property marketing and disclosure — feel free to reach out anytime. We're always happy to help ensure everything is marketed correctly, clearly, and transparently.