Landlords Fined Nearly $17,000
Tenancy Services now have a full time Compliance and Investigation Team with some of their results below
The Tenancy Tribunal has recently made orders totalling nearly $17,000 in exemplary damages against three landlords, as a result of investigations launched by the Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigations Team.
Peter Hackshaw, Acting National Manager Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team, says “Landlords who are not meeting their obligations under the RTA can expect to be held to account.”
“The TCI Team proactively assess and investigate landlords across New Zealand to ensure they are treating their rental properties as a business, and complying with their responsibilities” says Mr Hackshaw.
The orders involved multiple breaches of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) including failure to lodge bond monies, misleading insulation statements, property maintenance failings and disregard for tenant safety by ignoring a ‘Dangerous Building Notice’ issued by a local Council.
You can visit their website for information on these specific cases.
Tenancy Tribunal orders are publicly available on the Ministry of Justice website:
Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigations Team will also be randomly auditing Properties for compliance with the new Insulation Regulations
Rental property insulation deadline looms
Under changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) made in 2016, all rental properties must have ceiling and underfloor insulation installed, wherever possible, to meet the required standard. Insulation statements have been compulsory with all new tenancy agreements since 1 July 2016.
The deadline to be compliant is 1 July 2019. From that date Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigation Team will be focusing on compliance and enforcement of insulation requirements. There will be consequences for landlords who fail to comply in time, with exemplary damages of up to $4,000 per property.
If you need more information or want to check you have done enough to be compliant with the 2016 RTA changes contact Dan dan@taurangarentals.co.nz or phone the office 07 571 1025