Articles tagged with 'Tenancy Tribunal'
Proposed new RTA clause not needed
25 August 2023 - A proposed change to the Residential Tenancies Act is going to add another layer of enforcement for the Tenancy Tribunal.
Serious threats lead to eviction
19 July 2023 - One of the many victims of a rampage by a tenant in an Unsworth Heights, blocks of flats was so scared they wet themselves and defecated.
Illegal car park storage could mean end of tenancy
9 June 2023 - Two tenants who used their allocated parking space for storage have been told to remove their goods or they will be turfed out of their Manukau home.
Tenant who never resided at rental still liable for damages
6 June 2023 - A man who was named as a tenant on a Pukekohe rental but never lived at the property is still liable for part of $1,500 in exemplary damages awarded by the Tenancy Tribunal over other tenants’ drug use.
Mental suffering underlined in failed eviction bid
24 April 2023 - A landlord who filed a Tenancy Tribunal application to evict a tenant for ‘offensive verbal disputes’ has failed because the tenant suffers from night terrors and PTSD.
Tenancy Tribunal slices rent increase
10 February 2023 - A 30% rent increase foisted on an Amberley, North Canterbury tenant has been slashed by the Tenancy Tribunal.
Drug growing operation leaves landlord with massive costs
20 September 2022 - A landlord who was alerted by police to substantial damage at their rental caused by the tenant’s marijuana growing operation has been awarded $14,066 by the Tenancy Tribunal.
Gang violence leads to eviction
3 December 2021 - A violent de-patching of a gang member at a Tokoroa rental property led to the landlord getting an eviction notice to turf out the tenant.
Tribunal: Anti-social behaviour – tenancy terminated
25 October 2021 - A tenant who cut the Sky cable, removed fuses from the fuse box and put them back incorrectly, and tagged items on the premises has had his periodic tenancy terminated.
Tribunal: Baches and the RTA
11 October 2021 - The Tenancy Tribunal has given a decision on whether a bach is subject to the Residential Tenancies Act despite not hearing a dispute.
Changes to tenancy terminations
4 October 2021 - The Government has introduced an omnibus bill to Parliament making changes to the restriction of tenancy terminations during alert level four.
Methamphetamine: Landlords call for more clarity
30 September 2021 - Caught between a rock and hard place is how many property managers feel when it comes to dealing with methamphetamine and rental properties.
Tribunal: Black mould leads to substantial compensation order
25 August 2021 - Kāinga Ora has been before the tenancy tribunal following a tenant and her family suffering numerous health issues caused by mould at the property.
Rent shock for abandoning rental
17 August 2021 - A tenant who had rented a house for 36 years – but forgot to give the landlord written notice he was leaving – now has to pay $9,628 in rent arrears.
Tenants refuse property viewing
4 August 2021 - Two Weymouth, Auckland tenants who refused to let the landlord or prospective new tenants into the property have been ordered to pay $2,035 in damages.
Tribunal: Tenants’ bond ‘kept in a tin’
30 July 2021 - A $280 bond “kept in a tin” for a decade was evidence in a Dunedin Tenancy Tribunal hearing resulting in $15,900 being awarded to the tenants.
Claim against Bond Centre thrown out
28 June 2021 - The Tenancy Tribunal has tossed out a Wellington landlord’s claim the Bond Centre “did not do its job”.
Tenancy jurisdiction spat: No comfort from tribunal
26 May 2021 - Living in a caravan at Nelson’s Spirit of Nature commune has been cold comfort for a man embroiled in a spat with his landlord over whether a tenancy agreement exists.
More policing of landlords ‘total waste of money’
24 May 2021 - Some of the $80 million to be spent over the next four years to police Healthy Homes standards, fix the bond centre and fund RTA disputes could be better spent, says the Property Investors Federation.
More money to police property rental laws
20 May 2021 - The government has allocated $80 million over four years to police the healthy homes standards, fix the bond centre and fund RTA disputes.
Methamphetamine use doesn’t mean eviction
12 May 2021 - A landlord who wanted to evict a tenant because of possible methamphetamine use by two flatmates has been slapped down by the Tenancy Tribunal.
Eviction notice oversteps tenants’ rights – results in damages
23 April 2021 - Exemplary damages of $600 have been awarded against a landlord who tried to evict tenants after a row over ceiling insulation and other property repairs.
Persistent failure to lodge bonds: First ever court case
30 March 2021 - A Tauranga landlord has been taken to court for breaching a restraining order in relation to repeatedly failing to lodge bonds in the first case of its type in New Zealand.
Tenant’s hardship brings up legal issues
19 March 2021 - A Wellington tenant’s financial difficulties during the Covid-19 lockdowns has led to the Tenancy Tribunal considering legal issues around early lease terminations.
Tenancy terminated after house empty for a year
18 March 2021 - A Wellington state house tenant who tried to hang on to her rented home for a year, while out of the country, with no fixed return date, has been forced to give up the lease.
Harassment ends with substantial damages award
16 March 2021 - A Wellington landlord has been ordered to pay $1,000 in exemplary damages for harassing a tenant.
Tribunal divvies up blame in maintenance ruling
6 November 2020 - New Zealand’s aging housing stock and tradition of informal landlord-tenant relationships have the potential for complex disputes where fault lies with both parties – as illustrated by a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling.
Big damage pay-out awarded to landlord
5 October 2020 - Tenant liability for damage has long been a fraught issue but a new Tenancy Tribunal case shows that damage rulings can sometimes favour a landlord.
New renters' guide for tenants
23 September 2020 - Far too many tenants are not aware of their obligations around their rental property so a new guide aims to spell out what they need to know and do.
Ex-partner’s behaviour not a tenancy breach
15 September 2020 - Tenant responsibility for the behaviour of other people on the premises can have limits depending on the circumstances, a new Tenancy Tribunal ruling indicates.
Routine inspection pays off
24 August 2020 - Meth contamination was just one of the breaches uncovered during a routine property inspection that led to a firm Tenancy Tribunal ruling in favour of the landlord.
Changes to RTA now in force
19 August 2020 - The Government’s controversial tenancy law reforms are now law after the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2020 received Royal Assent on 11 August 2020.
Persistent RTA breaches cost landlord
6 August 2020 - Ongoing disregard for her obligations under residential tenancy law has resulted in a hefty fine for a notorious Christchurch landlord.
New rental laws will have unexpected outcomes
6 August 2020 - Watch out – some of the tenancy reforms now set to become law will have unintended consequences and cause more harm than good, REINZ is warning.
The final countdown
1 August 2020 - This week was supposed to see the second reading of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill in Parliament. That didn’t come about. So what happens now?
Partner’s residence breached tenancy agreement
20 July 2020 - More people living in a rental property than allowed under the tenancy agreement is a common problem, but a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling demonstrates why landlords should address this issue.
Select Committee green lights tenancy law reforms
10 July 2020 - Extreme disappointment is the response of property professionals to the Select Committee report on the Government’s proposed tenancy law reforms which was released this week.
Mould complaint doesn’t warrant reduced tenancy term
23 June 2020 - Many landlords are concerned the Tenancy Tribunal tends to favour tenants but one recent decision shows that’s not always the case.
Wind up emergency tenancy provisions now - REINZ
12 June 2020 - Emergency tenancy provisions introduced because of Covid-19 are now doing more harm than good so it’s time to bring them to an end, the Real Estate Institute says.
Rent arrears end tenancies in lockdown
20 May 2020 - The Covid-19 crisis saw the introduction of emergency rules which make it harder to terminate tenancies, but a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling shows that racking up rental arrears can still mean the end of a tenancy.
Navigating level two: what landlords need to know
18 May 2020 - With around 95% of businesses now back at work and children returning to schools today, New Zealand is now fully ensconced in alert level two. So what does that mean for residential landlords?
Moving properties during COVID-19 lockdown
30 March 2020 - Confused about whether tenants can move properties during the lockdown? If so, you’re not alone – so Tenancy Services has now released some advice around the issue.
Landlords’ plea: don’t unfairly target us
27 March 2020 - There are growing concerns among many landlords about unreasonable expectations from tenants, and the Government, in relation to rent during the lockdown.
Emergency rules boost tenant protections
25 March 2020 - Landlords can't raise rents or evict tenants, expect in specific situations, during the Covid-19 lockdown – but tenants do have obligations too.
Covid-19 crisis: what landlords need to know
25 March 2020 - [UPDATED] The Covid-19 crisis means that New Zealand is now in a State of National Emergency and the nationwide lockdown begins tonight.
COMMENT: Property from the trenches
24 March 2020 - Covid-19's major impact on New Zealand's economy means job losses and that has implications for landlords. Veteran investor Debbie Van Den Broek offers some suggestions on how landlords can weather the storm.
Failure to lodge bonds earns major penalty
6 March 2020 - A Tauranga property management company has been ordered to pay $16,417 for failing to lodge bonds within the required timeframe on multiple occasions.
On the brink of a crisis
3 March 2020 - Proposed tenancy law changes, which come in an environment of rental shortage, are on the brink of creating a low socioeconomic rental crisis.
COMMENT: Act against radical tenancy changes
2 March 2020 - New Zealand’s 290,000 rental property owners should resist radical changes to the Residential Tenancies Act both by submission and by their vote in this year’s election, argues Tenancies War spokesman Mike Butler.
Tenancy reform submissions due March 25
26 February 2020 - Worried about the government’s tenancy law reforms? You’d better speak up soon because there’s under a month to make a submission on the legislation.
The cost of overstaying tenants
26 February 2020 - Getting tenants to leave a rental property at the end of a tenancy can be problematic. Here’s a new Tenancy Tribunal ruling which serves as yet another example.
RTA reforms pile pressure on landlords
24 February 2020 - Less rental properties and higher rents could result from the reforms contained in the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, both Opposition MPs and government officials are warning.
Full steam ahead for tenancy reforms
21 February 2020 - Landlords won’t have long to have their say on the government’s tenancy law reform proposals after Parliament voted that the Select Committee dealing with the legislation should report back by 22 June.
Tenancy reform bill hits Parliament
17 February 2020 - Controversial tenancy law reforms, in the form of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, were introduced into Parliament on Monday and property industry players are not happy about it.
Rental contaminated, not damaged by meth
11 February 2020 - Establishing meth contamination of a rental property, and working out the penalties for any damage, can be a complex business these days - as a recent Tenancy Tribunal decision illustrates.
COMMENT: Checking in on insulation
7 February 2020 - Sizzling summer temperatures might be hitting towns all round New Zealand yet the insulation of rental properties remains a hot topic, writes NZ Property Investor editor Miriam Bell.
Getting heating right
24 January 2020 - Heating requirements for rental properties are currently a source of confusion for many landlords and property managers so REINZ has issued a reminder of what is required.
Threat to assault ends problem tenancy
21 January 2020 - Terminating the tenancy of badly behaving tenants can be a dangerous and difficult business as demonstrated by a recent Tenancy Tribunal case.
Evidence needed to support Tribunal claims
13 January 2020 - Landlord concerns about tenants angling for legal compensation for problems with their rental properties might be allayed a little by a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling.
The perils of leaving insulation late
23 December 2019 - Leaving the insulation of a rental property for too long after the July deadline and then entering the premises without consent has earned some Auckland landlords a penalty of over $1,000.
Defining “clean and tidy”
10 December 2019 - The issue of exactly how clean and tidy rental properties should be when tenants vacate has long been a battleground but a recent Tenancy Tribunal decision provides some guidance.
COMMENT: Landlords obligations to tenants
10 December 2019 - Do landlords have moral and social obligations towards their tenants, asks Auckland Property Investors Association vice-president Peter Lewis.
COMMENT: Unlawful premises – moving past Anderson v FM Custodians
26 November 2019 - Curious about the law around the use of non-residential property for residential purposes? Auckland Property Investors Association member Kristine King* explains the situation now that there’s new legislation in place.
COMMENT: Removing 90-day notices - the impacts
20 November 2019 - Being a successful landlord is all about managing risk but getting rid of “no cause” 90-day’ notices means risk will skyrocket, argues NZ Property Investor Federation executive member Brian Kerr.
Key reform will only protect bad tenants
18 November 2019 - Getting rid of “no cause” termination notices only serves to protect bad tenants and will have a negative impact on the broader community, not just landlords, according to landlord advocates.
Changes to RTA announced
17 November 2019 - The Government announced its long awaited tenancy law reforms on Sunday and they mean that landlords will no longer be able to get rid of tenants without reason.
More than fair “wear and tear”
12 November 2019 - Proving tenant liability for damage has long been a major worry for landlords but a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling shows that it can be done.
COMMENT: The truth about tenancy terminations
5 November 2019 - The Government wants to get rid of “no-cause” tenancy terminations. Auckland Property Investors Association vice president Peter Lewis explains why that is a bad idea.
Strong meth suspicions call for testing
21 October 2019 - Panic around the meth contamination of rentals has diminished, but a Tenancy Tribunal decision reinforces that landlords still have an obligation to test properties when contamination is suspected.
COMMENT: Getting to grips with tenancy disputes
7 October 2019 - Widespread ignorance of tenancy law is behind current representations of residential tenancy disputes which feature tenants as victims, writes Auckland Property Investors Association vice president Peter Lewis…
Airbnb room rental not bylaw violation
4 October 2019 - Renting a spare bedroom on Airbnb was a breach of the tenancy agreement but it did not constitute an unlawful act - under a local body by-law - by the tenant, the Tenancy Tribunal has found.
Bad behaviour behind most 90-day notices
27 September 2019 - Getting rid of “no cause” terminations won’t benefit good tenants but it will help bad tenants - as most 90-day notices are due to poor tenant behaviour, landlords are warning.
Lodge bonds or expect a penalty
23 September 2019 - Failure to lodge multiple tenancy bonds has earned another Auckland landlord a hefty penalty from the Tenancy Tribunal – and prompted a general warning to landlords.
COMMENT: How much is too much
5 September 2019 - New regulations around rental properties mean that being a landlord is becoming increasingly unattractive. Auckland Property Investors Association vice president Peter Lewis asks how much is too much…
Tribunal fines landlord for insulation fail
7 August 2019 - Failure to install insulation into a rental property by the July 1 deadline has earned a Bay of Plenty landlord a $1,500 penalty and a work order.
New tenant damage, meth measures are only partial solutions
26 July 2019 - Changes to the legislation around tenant damage and meth contamination have been years in the making but now they are finally here are they any good for landlords?
Getting end of tenancy clean ups right
5 July 2019 - Confusion over what leaving a property “reasonably clean and tidy” at the end of a tenancy means has prompted a call for prescriptive guidelines from Tenancy Services.
Insulation D-Day
1 July 2019 - Today’s the day that all rental properties must have ceiling and underfloor insulation under the Residential Tenancies Act – and it looks like the majority will be compliant.
Serial failure to lodge bonds earns massive fine
6 June 2019 - The importance of lodging tenants’ bond money is demonstrated by a new Tenancy Tribunal ruling which orders an Auckland landlord to pay nearly $180,000.
COMMENT: Tenant selection turned into a lotto draw
1 June 2019 - The Privacy Commissioner has created a lotto draw for tenant selection with the recent release of some ill-conceived guidelines, writes property management consultant David Faulkner.
No extensions for insulation compliance
24 May 2019 - There will be no extensions for landlords who don’t comply with the 2016 insulation requirements, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment is warning.
Tardy repairs earn $2000 fine
3 May 2019 - Slow action on a leaky roof has earned a property management company and an absentee landlord a fine and a reprimand from the Tenancy Tribunal.
Tribunal rules for landlord in damage case
24 January 2019 - Damage done to a Porirua rental property by a dozen dogs was intentional and that means the tenants have to pay, the Tenancy Tribunal has found.
Time of change: 2019 forecast
15 January 2019 - New Zealand’s property market might be in a better place than Australia’s but investors still need to brace themselves for major change in 2019.
Top 5 Tribunal tips for landlords
27 December 2018 - Love it or loathe it, many landlords find they need the Tenancy Tribunal so it pays to know how it works.
Monitoring rental home quality
19 December 2018 - Landlords concerned about whether or not their rental properties qualify as “healthy homes” can now look to new high-tech monitoring tool for help.