The residential rental industry has been aware all year that changes were being introduced to make rental properties safer and warmer.  All the changes are now in force, and it is worth reminding landlords and tenants alike what effect they will  have.

Health and Safety

If you are a landlord renting out a property for financial return you should by now realise that you have a business.  When you engage a contractor or employee to carry out work on your property they are subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.   You have a responsibility to ensure that their work on your property is as safe as it can be.  Businesses and contractors that you hire must also comply with the new Health and Safety requirements.

Smoke Alarms

Every residential rental property must now have adequate smoke alarms.  If your property is lacking in this regard, it is imperative that you get cracking and install the correct alarms now!  Remember also that if you are installing a smoke alarm since 1 July 2016, it must be of the 10-year battery life type, not the older type with replaceable batteries.

Insulation – Current

In any new tenancy agreement since 1 July, a landlord must specify what type and level of insulation (if any) is installed in the property.  Even if there is none, that must be stated.  Also under-floor foil insulation cannot be installed or repaired. 

Enforcing Compliance

To enforce these new changes the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has a new Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team whose investigators have the power to take proceedings against landlords in the Tenancy Tribunal, even without a tenant’s consent.   Penalties for breach can be up to $4,000 and so it is very sensible to ensure that you comply with the new requirements. 

Insulation - Countdown to 2019

Christmas is getting closer, and before we know it we’ll be ticking our way through 2017.  That leaves landlords with only two years to ensure that their properties comply with the new insulation standards.  This should sound a warning.  Many properties that satisfy the older standard of insulation will not comply with the requirements of 2019.  There is no excuse – you have had three (now two) years to comply.  Don’t leave it too late – backlogs and queues for installation may not work as an excuse.

If you find that this all becomes too hard for you as a private landlord, give Quinovic a call.  We will be happy to take care of the compliance issues for you.  We’re experts in Property Care and Return.