Allen Realty Advise On 'How To Be A Good Landlord'

At times landlords can be portrayed as the ‘bad guys’ in the rental market but, as most landlords will be aware, this is not usually the case. However, it is useful for landlords to be aware of their ethical and professional responsibilities and, as Allen Realty recommend, a landlord, acting ethically and professionally will help to encourage stable, long term tenancies which help to ensure the rent is paid on time and the property is well looked after.

The Allen Realty team advise that to all intents and purposes, the rental property market is a business relationship and all dealings should be kept on a professional level within the bounds of the law. The Tenancy Tribunal is the forum for any tenancy disputes and they usually view the landlord as a professional, and respecting a tenant’s privacy under the Privacy Act is the first priority. Another priority is communication. Tenants must be given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice of an inspection and it is recommended this is done Monday to Saturday between the hours of 8am and 7pm.

Discrimination is another important factor to consider. This usually comes to the fore during the tenant selection process. Tenants, like everyone else have rights under the Human Rights Act 1993. It protects them from discrimination due to their age, sex, sexual orientation, colour, disability, employment status, ethical beliefs, ethnic or national origins and religious beliefs.

Setting large rent hikes to get rid of an existing tenant is also considered unethical and landlords should maintain accurate market rents at all times. If a landlord wants to terminate a tenancy then they should do this in accordance with section 51 of the RTA or via the Tenancy Tribunal (for breaches). The RTA defines market rent as "rent that, without regard to the personal circumstances of the landlord or the tenant, a willing landlord might reasonably expect to receive and a willing tenant might reasonably expect to pay for the tenancy".

All landlords should avoid retaliation and a landlord cannot issue a notice to terminate a tenancy based on retaliation for any complaint against the landlord, or by the exercise or proposed exercise of any right, power or authority that is conferred on the tenant by the tenancy agreement, the RTA 1986 or any other enactment. So if a tenant complains about an issue or annoys the landlord, notice to terminate can’t be issued based on retaliation.

Repairs and maintenance need to be carried out within a reasonable time frame and landlords are expected to have the resources needed to complete repairs and make a property compliant. Section 45 of the RTA details a landlord’s responsibilities and it is an unlawful act for any landlord to breach these requirements.

Using the services of a property management company like Allen Realty will ensure a happy and secure relationship between landlords and tenants. For more information go to http://www.allenrealty.co.nz.