Harcourts Udy Realty Discuss Latest Tenancy Law Reforms

Not surprisingly, landlords have hit back a new tenancy law reforms, saying the latest rules will make it harder to evict anti-social tenants. Landlords will no longer be able to get rid of tenants without reason, under law changes announced last month by Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi.

They say the law change will make it much harder for landlords to evict unsavoury renters, which will also affect neighbours of bad tenants who will have to put up with them for longer. At present, landlords can give a tenant 90 days' notice without having to provide a reason and 42 days' notice in some circumstances, such as landlords or their family wanting to move in, or if the property has been sold. Tenants now have to give only 21 days' notice.

The Government plans to remove the right of landlords to end a tenancy under a bill next year to amend the Residential Tenancies Act. It also plans to increase notice periods for some specified reasons. Anti-social behavior and rent arrears will still be cause for eviction notices but the Government is proposing to require the landlord to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal in such cases. Not only that, but the landlord will be required to produce evidence of having issued three notices of such behavior or arrears having occurred within a 90-day period.

The New Zealand Property Investor Federation said the proposed changes to no-cause terminations would do more than punish landlords. "They will punish anyone living next to a tenant with anti-social behavior," executive officer Andrew King said in a statement.

With more and more people renting, the law should provide enough security to responsible renters to put down roots in their community, Faafoi said. "Greater security of tenancy and less regular rent increases, coupled with the ability to make minor improvements, mean renters will be better placed to make house a home."

Harcourts Udy Realty’s industry leading systems and procedures together with their continuing innovation ensures you and your property are in the best hands, so for more information on rental appraisals, residential property management Auckland and Harcourts property management please go to https://www.udyrealty.co.nz .