Warning all landlords - compliance non-negotiable

by Jack Vale

That is the message from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

The warning shots follow an audit of five separate property management companies across the country found varying levels of compliance in some of the most basic requirements of being a landlord, namely insulation and smoke alarms. Landlords and property managers are now being put on notice that it is imperative that they ensure compliance is a number one priority, or face the consequences.

It has been well publicised that changes to legislation surrounding smoke alarms and insulation must be complied to. Smoke alarms must be within three metres of bedroom doors and insulation must be in all rental properties where applicable by 1st July 2019.

However, what many private landlords are unaware of is that despite the deadline for insulation being a little over two years away, it is still required as per the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) that all tenancy agreements include the type of insulation in the property, where the insulation is and the ‘R’ rating of this insulation.