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APIA Blog

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30-Jul-2021

Ryan Smuts: Interest rates are on the up

Interest rates are starting to track up leading to significant cost implications for property investors. Some specific issues to be mindful of: 1. Why are interest rates going up? Interest rate markets are already pricing in a 90% chance of a rise to the OCR in August! The recent RBNZ comments around the Large Scale Asset Purchase (effectively money printing) are also infl...

Q&A

23-Apr-2021

Ending an unsigned FT extension early

This week's question comes from Kowie S: We had a fixed-term tenancy from the end 2019- end 2020. Our landlords reached out close to the expiry date and offered us a 1-year extension via email. We responded by stating we would be happy to extend and asked that they would let us know when we can discuss and sign the contract. They replied by saying no need to sign, they will just change the...

Q&A

12-Jan-2021

Ending a fixed-term tenancy to sell

This week's question comes from Rob (paraphrased): I want to sell a property that is currently subject to a fixed-term tenancy (term expiring 22nd February 2021). I need some downtime between the tenancy and the listing to tidy up the property. In light of the RTAA, what notice should I give to terminate the tenancy? Also, for the first time, the tenant had missed a rent payment, if I give...

Q&A

04-Jan-2021

How much to increase rent by in response to RTAA 2020

This week's question comes from Joss: What rent premiums are landlords typically applying to addressed increased risks associated with the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020? Without a doubt, certain provisions of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 (RTAA 2020) shift the balance of risk and reward against landlords. Anecdotally many of our members have indicated that th...

Q&A

21-Dec-2020

What's my HHS compliance date?

This week's question comes from Cliff: My property is not yet fully HHS compliant, how should I fill in the compliance date on the HHS Compliance Statement? Actually, we expect this to be a common situation many landlords find themselves in. There are several deadlines for the Healthy Homes Standards (HHS) between now and July 2024. While the HHS Compliance Statement is now compu...

Q&A

14-Dec-2020

Brightline application for 'private transfer' of inherited properties

This week's question comes from Irene B and the answer is kindly provided by Amanda Watt of Shortland Chartered Accountants. The answer is intended to be for general information only and not tax advice. We inherited a residential property which was also in a Company ( we inherited the company). After a time we sold this property from the company to a trust. The only two directors of...

Q&A

22-Oct-2020

Tenant requesting permission to occupy after termination

This week's question comes from Maggie: I issued a 90-day notice for termination on 5th November. The tenants have asked if they can stay longer as they can’t find a home. I still want to terminate but am flexible with the date of exit. I gave notice in this instance as these are not tenants I want once the RTAA2020 termination rules come into effect. What’s my position if I allow them to ...

Q&A

12-Oct-2020

Can tenant be reimbursed for piped water when the water tank fails?

This week's question comes from Anonymous: My tenant (from 2016 to 2020) has made a Tribunal application against me. She is claiming, among other things, reimbursement of water rates due to the roof and gutters not being cleaned rendering the water tank unusable. Is that a valid claim? Without further information, we assume the following: That the property has both reticulated water...

Q&A

09-Oct-2020

Can HHS ventilation ducting be merged?

This week's question comes from Lara: My rental has a bathroom right next to the kitchen. Can the ducting of the bathroom extractor and kitchen extractor be joined and vented out of the house together for HHS ventilation purposes? Yes, so long as both extractor fans meet the size/capacity requirement (i.e. >150 mm diameter/exhaust capacity > 50 litres per second for anything ins...

Q&A