It will affect lives for the better - but it's going to come at a cost.

Housing Minister Phil Twyford says today released a discussion document for his healthy homes plan.

It includes suggestions such as minimum room temperatures and heating devices.

But Property Management company director David Faulkner from Real IQ told Larry Williams some of the planned changes will be expensive, and everyone's going to pay.

"Rents will go up because landlords will, again, have to recover the costs.

On the flipside, we're going to see New Zealand being more productive,we'll see less people getting sick, we'll see less strain on the health service."

Faulkner says it will be important the changes aren't rolled out too quickly, as a quarter of a million rentals will need work done.

LISTEN TO DAVID FAULKNER TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE