diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/template.py b/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
index 8e039432728..2d9563ade86 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import logging
 import jinja2
 from jinja2.sandbox import ImmutableSandboxedEnvironment
 
+import humanize
+
 from homeassistant.components import group
 from homeassistant.const import STATE_UNKNOWN, ATTR_LATITUDE, ATTR_LONGITUDE
 from homeassistant.core import State
@@ -38,6 +40,11 @@ def render_with_possible_json_value(hass, template, value,
         return value if error_value is _SENTINEL else error_value
 
 
+def relative_time(end_time):
+    """Return a relative (human readable) timestamp for the given time."""
+    return humanize.naturaltime(dt_util.now() - end_time)
+
+
 def render(hass, template, variables=None, **kwargs):
     """Render given template."""
     if variables is not None:
@@ -57,6 +64,7 @@ def render(hass, template, variables=None, **kwargs):
             'states': AllStates(hass),
             'utcnow': utcnow,
             'as_timestamp': dt_util.as_timestamp,
+            'relative_time': relative_time
         }).render(kwargs).strip()
     except jinja2.TemplateError as err:
         raise TemplateError(err)
diff --git a/requirements_all.txt b/requirements_all.txt
index ddfc5a0802f..6fd11b160b2 100644
--- a/requirements_all.txt
+++ b/requirements_all.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ pip>=7.0.0
 vincenty==0.1.4
 jinja2>=2.8
 voluptuous==0.8.9
+humanize==0.5.1
 
 # homeassistant.components.isy994
 PyISY==1.0.5