What are you looking for?

The Government is rolling out a new initiative to understand why there are so many empty properties in NZ and possible ways to utilise them to help with the housing crisis.

Kiwis own more pets per household than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately for renters, only 13% of landlords allow pets in their rental properties. So, what are the pros and cons of allowing a four-legged co-tenant to move in, and what opportunities are you missing out on by having a hard "no pets" policy?

Every successful search starts with a great listing.

So you're renting out a property with a pool. Lucky tenants! But who should be responsible for keeping it clean and paying for necessary repairs?

The past year has brought an avalanche of changes to the NZ rental market. We're sure some of them made you question whether or not it is worth it. Although the full impact of these changes is hard to predict, property investment still remains one of the best investment opportunities in the long run.

You can sell the investment property at any time, including when it is tenanted. Selling a property with tenants can be financially beneficial for investors, but it does complicate things a little. Read on to learn the pros and cons of this choice and how the sale process can take place when the property is not vacant.

myRent is an inclusive community where all members are required to treat everyone with respect. Bad behaviour and discrimination is unacceptable and could result in permanent removal from the community.

Selecting a suitable tenant is not unlike the hiring process. Finding a tenant who pays rent on time, communicates well, follows the rental laws and looks after the property takes some time and effort.

This week the Government has provided more guidance on exemptions from new tax rules introduced in March 2021.

2020 was a challenging year, but 2021 is exceeding our expectations... The most controversial Government policy targeting residential property investors has been revealed.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (RTAA) is arguably the biggest tenancy reform in 30 years. It comes with lots of nuisances that landlords should be aware of.

11 February 2021 is a big day. The second phase of The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (RTAA) is coming into effect. What every landlord needs to know.

The deadline for compliance with the Healthy Homes minimum standards is looming. Are you on track to meet the necessary requirements?

There must be at least one fixed heater that meets a required heating capacity that can directly heat the main living room to at least 18°C. Specific heating devices that are inefficient, unaffordable or unhealthy will not meet the requirements of this standard.

From 1 July 2019 ceiling and underfloor insulation became compulsory in all rental homes. The Healthy Homes Insulation Standard increases the minimum standard for existing insulation.

Ventilation must include openable windows in the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms. Rooms with a bath or shower or indoor cooktop must have an appropriately sized extractor fan vented outside.

Landlords must block any unreasonable gaps and holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, skylights and doors that cause draughts. Open fireplaces must be blocked unless the tenant and landlord agree otherwise.

A rental property must have a drainage system that drains stormwater, surface water and groundwater to an appropriate outfall. The drainage system must include gutters, downpipes and drains to remove water from the roof. A rental property with enclosed subfloor space must have a ground moisture barrier (if practicable to install).

There are 2 general exemptions and 1 partial exemption from complying with the Healthy Homes Standards that landlords should be aware of.

Anything new installed in the rental property or provided to meet the Healthy Homes Standards must be maintained in good working order.

As a landlord, you need to ensure that your rentals meet the standards by the deadline. However, you also need to keep records of how you're complying with the Healthy Homes Standards (HHS).

The standards create specific and minimum requirements for all rental properties in respect of heating, insulation, ventilation, draught stopping, moisture ingress and drainage. Landlords must ensure they are aware of the requirements around each standard to prevent the risk of future penalties.

Now that the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 is introduced renting is not going to be quite the same. New rules mean increased risks for many landlords. So screening tenants carefully has never been more important.

From 31st August 2020, some types of building work no longer require a building consent. These exemptions not just speed up the construction process but save a lot of money for house owners.