Law changes for Landlords are now in force
From 1 July 2016 there are a raft of changes that affect landlords. Our team of property lawyers has outlined what you need to know...
- Smoke Alarms - Landlords need to have working smoke alarms installed in all their residential homes. Any replacement alarms installed after that date will need to have long life batteries and a photoelectric sensor. Hardwired smoke alarms are also permitted.
- Insulation - All residential rental homes in New Zealand will be required to have insulation to keep a home warm in winter and cool in summer. Social housing (where tenants pay an income related rent) must have been insulated by 1 July 2016 and all other rental homes by July 2019.
- Tenancy abandonment process:
> The new law introduces an expedited process for a landlord to regain possession of their rental property when the property has been abandoned
> Landlords will not need to be present when the Adjudicator considers the evidence under this new process.
- Enhanced enforcement function - The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will have greater enforcement powers.
- Retaliatory notice - It is now an unlawful act for a landlord to end a tenancy in retaliation for a tenant exercising a right under the tenancy agreement, the relevant law, or by making a complaint relating to the tenancy. This is called a ‘retaliatory notice’ under the Residential Tenancies Act.
For assistance or advice regarding residential tenancy matters get in touch with one of our Hawke's Bay based Solicitors.
Guides to the law
Here are links to the New Zealand Law Society law awareness pamphlets.
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