Yesterday the new Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill was passed, with changes such as covering boarding houses and allowing landlords to fine tenants $2000 if they harass neighbours.
The New Zealand Property Investors Federation has welcomed the bill.
Yesterday the new Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill was passed, with changes such as covering boarding houses and allowing landlords to fine tenants $2000 if they harass neighbours.
The New Zealand Property Investors Federation has welcomed the bill. Its president Martin Evans said it enables landlords to better manage their rental accommodation and upholds the balance between landlords and tenants.
One of the changes the group was pleased with was the provision for landlords to charge an additional $1000 if rent is overdue without a reasonable excuse.
Landlords also now have permission to destroy goods tenants leave behind at a property depending on a market assessment.
“Up until now, there have been no disincentives for tenants to abandon their rental property owing money. If they were ever found, all they had to do was pay back what they owed,” Mr Evans said.
“Many tenants probably thought it was worth a go. We successfully argued that there needed to be consequences to hold people accountable and help reduce the Tribunal time taken up with this sort of problem.”
Other changes include allowing the Tenancy Tribunal to deal with disputes regarding up to $50,000 rather than its previous limit of $12,000 and clarifying the expiration of fixed-term tenancies.
