From Stuff
"In a ruling by the Gisborne​ Tenancy Tribunal on December 12, Xxxxx was ordered to pay his tenant $3300 in exemplary damages for failing to insulate during the tenancy that ended in September, but as the tenant had failed to pay $6450​ in rent, the landlord didn't have to hand over any money."
Nah.

aklreels - 2021-01-01 12:07:00

Fair call a tenant shouldn't have to pay rent on a house not up to a rentable standard.

ash4561 - 2021-01-01 12:58:00

Some insulation present but not up to the current standard. Tenant raised a whole lot of maintenance issues which were dismissed. Not a great rent payer and now prospective landlords have the evidence.

artemis - 2021-01-01 13:49:00

ash4561 wrote:

Fair call a tenant shouldn't have to pay rent on a house not up to a rentable standard.

whose standard ? .. some Greta wannabees with their snout in the taxpayer funded Government trough .. just because a standard is set doesn't mean it's a reasonable or logical standard .. my house doesn't meet the new healthy homes standard and I have no issue living in it .. also pathetic the 90 day notice if you want to sell the property ..

pf - 2021-01-01 13:49:00

We have been landlords of a dual tenancy property in South Auckland for some 15 years. Over that time we have been lucky with tenants, with a few exceptions. We have had a very competent experienced property manager for some 6-8 of those years. The two lots of present tenants have been there for about 3-4 years and are tidy and responsible. Over the last 18 mths we have upgraded the insulation and installed heat pumps to meet the new tenancy regulations coming in.

Recently the property manager suggested that we up the rent on both units as they are under the average rental for the area. We declined to do this for two reasons - 2020 was a year of upheaval with one guy losing his job and getting behind with rent (he gradually caught up) and while we have stable responsible tenants it is stupid to raise the rent - they could move out and we would then be faced with the unknown "quantity" of new ones.

When either or both parties do eventually move, we have decided to sell the property as the new tenancy rules are becoming very onerous! Capricorngirl

mlarkin - 2021-01-01 14:15:00

The member deleted this message.

gunna-1 - 2021-01-01 17:34:00

Attitude Attitude... It's all about attitude Gunna.

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 17:40:00

You'd get on better without it and have less stress.

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 17:41:00

You know Gunna, there are farmers out there/here. that have a house to spare, and they're just looking for some good single guy that'd give them a hand now and then, nothing to difficult or demanding.. But they're looking for someone with a positive outlook that gets on with people and is an asset.. There are good positions all over the country for good pleasant people..

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 17:50:00

Farmers aren't interested in insulating their old houses, or getting involved with people that think paying rent entitles them to too much..

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 17:57:00

This message was deleted.

gunna-1 - 2021-01-01 17:58:00

It's not something to look into Gunna.. They are looking for people that they can tell won't get all shitty ...

There are options though for people called "woofers".. Look that word up.. You could go woofering for a while and get free board and feed for about four hours a day of pleasant work on organic farms and lifestyle blocks.. And it'll get you out of the shitty city and out there being seen as a nice guy if you make it so.

Edited by mechnificent at 6:07 pm, Fri 1 Jan

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 18:05:00

This message was deleted.

gunna-1 - 2021-01-01 18:18:00

Mate.. that would go down alright.. Look into it. There are sites that advertise places and people looking for places. Say you need to get out of the shitty and are looking for a long term position... You might get lucky.. we all do sometimes..

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 18:21:00

ash4561 wrote:

Fair call a tenant shouldn't have to pay rent on a house not up to a rentable standard.

So all rental properties should be "5 star" standard? Surely I should be able to choose the standard I wish to reside in. I can still drive a 1990 shitter, if I want to save, or when will Jacinda and her leftie caucus decree that cars older than 10 years old cannot be used. Actually that would make more sense than the minimum standards for rentals.

bwg11 - 2021-01-01 18:33:00

I agree... I live in a shed without insulation, and an outside dunny.. And I'm as healthy as..

mechnificent - 2021-01-01 18:36:00

Rental was built to the Government mandated building code.
Rental was issued a final code of compliance by the council.
Why is it the owners issue if it's not up to some new standard?

pcle - 2021-01-02 07:34:00

Lets face it, the new rental codes are pretty low. We did the changes to meet the standards long before the new standards were even talking about being introduced.

tygertung - 2021-01-02 08:11:00

tygertung wrote:

Lets face it, the new rental codes are pretty low. We did the changes to meet the standards long before the new standards were even talking about being introduced.

Yes agree with this. Especially things like kitchen and bathroom moisture extraction. Programmes for insulation and heating have been in force for several years.

shanreagh - 2021-01-02 09:26:00

bwg11 wrote:

So all rental properties should be "5 star" standard? Surely I should be able to choose the standard I wish to reside in. I can still drive a 1990 shitter, if I want to save, or when will Jacinda and her leftie caucus decree that cars older than 10 years old cannot be used. Actually that would make more sense than the minimum standards for rentals.

Funny that you mention cars. There is an article in Stuff this morning that proposes a trial of leasing ex rental cars to lower income families in an attempt to get old fingers off the roads.

rak1 - 2021-01-02 09:33:00

rak1 wrote:

Funny that you mention cars. There is an article in Stuff this morning that proposes a trial of leasing ex rental cars to lower income families in an attempt to get old fingers off the roads.

Just read it myself. The rot spreads.

bwg11 - 2021-01-02 10:17:00

rak1 wrote:

Funny that you mention cars. There is an article in Stuff this morning that proposes a trial of leasing ex rental cars to lower income families in an attempt to get old fingers off the roads.

Some of the 'old fingers' may belong to older people some of whom are who are also riding round in what probably are old 'dungers' (before the auto correct wizards had a go)

It would be good if they had a chance as well.

shanreagh - 2021-01-02 11:34:00

bwg11 wrote:

So all rental properties should be "5 star" standard? Surely I should be able to choose the standard I wish to reside in. I can still drive a 1990 shitter, if I want to save, or when will Jacinda and her leftie caucus decree that cars older than 10 years old cannot be used. Actually that would make more sense than the minimum standards for rentals.

Minimum rentable standard does not necessarily equal “5 star” standard. Conflating the two seems to be an attempt at a straw man argument on your part.
To continue using your car analogy, your 1990 shitter car will still have functioning brakes, correct lighting, good tyres, be structurally sound etc.

Try again.

pico42 - 2021-01-02 12:15:00

The rental new rules around rentals seem fairly reasonable to me, as a previous poster noted earlier, putting insulation in is not a big ask, its affordable and makes a big difference to the comfort levels in the house. extractor fans etc in kitchen and bathroom are sensible if you want to keep a house in ok condition.
I like the tenants I have and am trying to set the house up and maintain it so that they stay happy :) Current project , replacing fencing so they can keep their puppy safe :)
I don't need to rack rent as I manage things with them, the tenants, and have dropped the parasitic 'property management' who just meant the rent had to go up to cover their non existent 'contributions'..

upfront1 - 2021-01-02 12:16:00

Not so sure about the heat pumps though, as an asthmatic myself I know that they cause my asthma to get a lot worse, probably the loss of natural humidity and dry air . But saying that , the tenant doesn't have to use it...

upfront1 - 2021-01-02 12:19:00

wow a puppy

ash4561 - 2021-01-02 12:52:00

And can have a log burner, if one is allowed in the reigon in which you live in.

tygertung - 2021-01-02 12:54:00

upfront1 wrote:

The rental new rules around rentals seem fairly reasonable to me, as a previous poster noted earlier, putting insulation in is not a big ask, its affordable and makes a big difference to the comfort levels in the house. extractor fans etc in kitchen and bathroom are sensible if you want to keep a house in ok condition.
I like the tenants I have and am trying to set the house up and maintain it so that they stay happy :) Current project , replacing fencing so they can keep their puppy safe :)
I don't need to rack rent as I manage things with them, the tenants, and have dropped the parasitic 'property management' who just meant the rent had to go up to cover their non existent 'contributions'..

You are the winner of the 2020 trademe landlord of the year title.

ash4561 - 2021-01-02 13:00:00

mechnificent wrote:

Farmers aren't interested in insulating their old houses, or getting involved with people that think paying rent entitles them to too much..

So you do know that farm accommodation is also now covered by the RTA and Healthy Homes standards?
"Yes, farm houses do. This type of tenancy may be a service tenancy. A service tenancy is where an employer provides accommodation for a worker to live during their employment. All service tenancies are required to have a tenancy agreement and are fully covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, even if the tenant doesn’t pay rent." Tenancy Services

hers.nz - 2021-01-03 10:47:00

ash4561 wrote:

You are the winner of the 2020 trademe landlord of the year title.

haha :) I find its not hard to treat people with respect , its hopefully looong term and means they treat me well too :) during the lockdown I also was able to drop the rent when my bank agreed to drop the payment rates so all good :)

upfront1 - 2021-01-03 15:11:00

Yes Hers.. And farmers aren't interested.. Shoot me.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:14:00

This type of tenancy MAY be a service tenancy. A service tenancy is where an EMPLOYER provides accommodation for a worker to live during their EMPLOYMENT.

Read what I actually said up further..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:20:00

mechnificent wrote:

This type of tenancy MAY be a service tenancy. A service tenancy is where an EMPLOYER provides accommodation for a worker to live during their EMPLOYMENT.

Read what I actually said up further..

And are still bound by the RTA and Healthy Homes Standards.

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 15:23:00

When I was young Hers, before I owned land, I was offered land for free to build on. I built but never took the land.. There are generous people out there..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:23:00

No Sparky.. They are not..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:23:00

Unless you've had the offers I've had, then you are making presumptions..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:25:00

mechnificent wrote:

No Sparky.. They are not..

"The Residential Tenancies Act covers service tenancies. All the standard rules apply, except for a couple of differences."

https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/starting-a-tenancy/types-of-tena
ncies/service-tenancy/

Differences being rent can be deducted from wages and service of notice is different so tenancies end on termination of employment.

But otherwise, yes, service tenancies are covered by the RTA

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 15:30:00

Sparky.. You seem like a sensible guy, and a nice guy, and I wouldn't want to offend you..but...you are arguing from a point of ignorance here..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:33:00

mechnificent wrote:

Sparky.. You seem like a sensible guy, and a nice guy, and I wouldn't want to offend you..but...you are arguing from a point of ignorance here..

Please point to the parts of the RTA that support your assertion. I won't be offended.

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 15:34:00

Unless you've had the offers I've had, then you are making presumptions.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:34:00

Twice in my life, well three if we count my wife, I've been invited to live places, and in one case offered land, which they were happy to subdivide off.. just because I'm a nice guy, that helps everyone.. They tell me I'm an asset to the community.. There was no obligations on me at all.. It was never a matter of employment.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:37:00

mechnificent wrote:

Unless you've had the offers I've had, then you are making presumptions.

just because you’ve had offers doesn’t make it the case.

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 15:42:00

Ha that's kinda illogical Sparky.. Or aren't you reading what I write.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:48:00

mechnificent wrote:

Ha that's kinda illogical Sparky.. Or aren't you reading what I write.

not at all. Read what YOU wrote. #33 and #35.

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 15:53:00

Yeah I always know what I've written Sparky...

And I'm not here to try and convince you of anything.. People invited me to stay for the community, and their family's personal benefit.. There was never any question or mention of employment.. just free land and/or accomodation.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 15:59:00

You aren't in any position to deny it Sparky.. You weren't there and you don't know. And Sparky, you haven't any reason to doubt me.. I'm an honest guy and you haven't seen me lie in here.. I don't lie.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 16:01:00

This place is hilarious sometimes..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 16:02:00

mechnificent wrote:

Yeah I always know what I've written Sparky...

And I'm not here to try and convince you of anything.. People invited me to stay for the community, and their family's personal benefit.. There was never any question or mention of employment.. just free land and/or accomodation.

then Your examples to prove that a service tenancy is exempt from the RTA wasn’t even a service tenancy.....

sparkychap - 2021-01-03 16:07:00

So.. People can and do have homes for use, and they don't have to be up to anything... The house could be a hundred years old and half falling down and if I'd decided to live in it for free and obligation free that would have been, and is still, completely legal.

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 16:08:00

Ha.. Yes Sparky.. That's what I's been saying repeatedly ! That not all accommodation has to fall under the legislation..

mechnificent - 2021-01-03 16:10:00