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Tenant selection turned into a lotto draw
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) dropped yet another bombshell on an industry that continues to find itself struggling to cope with the amount of change thrust upon it. This month, without prior warning or involvement from industry organisations such as REINZ or IPMA, the OPC released new guidelines that Property Managers and landlords should adopt when selecting a new tenant. Their advice, if followed to their recommendations, almost turns tenancy selection into a lotto draw. Want the property? Just put your name in the hat, don’t worry about it, you never know your luck. As Bindi Norwell, CEO of REINZ stated, guidelines are good. However, there are discrepancies and she was also critical that as a body, they were not consulted with before the release of the OPC guidelines. (Source: Real-iQ)
It’s the law: Healthy Homes standards
It was announced today that the final version of the standards have been approved and signed off by Cabinet and are now set to be gazetted. The new standards, which were first announced by Housing Minister Phil Twyford in February, set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in residential rental properties. Private landlords will have two years to ensure their rental properties are compliant with the standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy. But all rental homes must fully comply with the healthy home standards by 2024. (Source: Landlords.co.nz)
Is your rental home insulated?
Ceiling and underfloor insulation will be compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Landlords who don’t comply with the regulations will be committing an unlawful act and may be liable for a penalty of up to $4,000. What do landlords need to do?
- Check whether insulation can be installed.
- Assess your current insulation.
- Install or top up insulation as required.
- Make sure your tenancy agreements include an insulation statement.
Insulation keeps your rental property warm and dry, making it easier and more efficient for tenants to heat. Warm and dry rental homes help tenants avoid illnesses and make them more likely to stay longer. It's also good business practice to protect your investment, by keeping your property in good condition. (Source: Tenancy Services)
Beware unauthorised trades work
Property owners are being warned not to fall into the trap of using unlicensed people to conduct plumbing work on renovation projects. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB)* issued the warning after a Hamilton man was this week fined $2,000, by the Hamilton District Court, for carrying out restricted plumbing work. Sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand, and it is illegal to do this restricted work unless authorised by the PGDB. PGDB chief executive Martin Sawyers says unauthorised restricted sanitary plumbing work carries a maximum fine of $10,000. The Insurance Council warns: “The use of unregistered and unqualified persons to do sanitary plumbing, gasfitting or drainage work on an insured property may invalidate the property’s insurance cover in the event of a loss resulting from the work undertaken." (Source: Landlords.co.nz)
illion Tenancy stickers
Keep your tenants informed! We have free stickers available which are suitable to be placed inside rental properties such as inside the pantry door or kitchen cupboard. We hear many stories about their effectiveness. To view or order these free stickers online visit Forms > Downloadable Products.
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