Kiwis are famous for their ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. But, when it comes to landlords, being too laid back can mean inadvertently falling foul of the law – unless someone like a friendly Raine & Horne property professional is there to warn and protect them.

Let’s look at two examples. It has been a busy summer, and our ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) landlord is looking to escape the coming winter cold by holidaying in a warmer climate. Our DIY property owner is older, retired and can afford to spend more than a month away, combining it with a side trip to see a family member.

Hotels, and air tickets are booked, and off Mr and Mrs DIY go, except no-one reminded them of what the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) requires of landlords heading overseas. If a landlord will be outside Aotearoa for more than 21 consecutive days, they must appoint an agent to act on their behalf while they are away.

This is not a ‘nice to do’, it is a legal requirement with penalties of up to $1,500 payable to the tenant, and a fine of up to $3,000 if an infringement notice is issued.

If forewarned, our Mr DIY can ask any friend or acquaintance to act as his representative, but they would need to be well-informed of tenancy obligations to manage the property effectively and meet legal requirements. For many, these may be more onerous than they had bargained on.

The good news is that if Mr DIY hires Raine & Horne as property manager he is fully covered and nothing else needs to be done. Enjoy your holiday!

Example two: Without Raine & Horne, Mr DIY may have forgotten one other important thing. According to the Healthy Homes Standards deadlines, every rental property in New Zealand must have been inspected and be fully compliant from 1 July 2025. 

There are no exceptions to this, and any non-complying property cannot be legally rented out. If tenants move out and the property is non-compliant, landlords will be facing an extended vacancy period until everything is up to standard. Non-compliance can also cost a landlord significantly more than just getting repair work done, as the Tenancy Tribunal can impose financial penalties – not to mention the loss of rental income while the repair work is completed.

If Raine & Horne had been retained as Mr DIY’s property manager his rental would have been assessed and any repair work carried out well ahead of the deadline, when it may have been harder to find contractors.

With Raine & Horne on the case Mr DIY could really relax, knowing we have his back, while helping him make the most of his rental asset.

Whether you want to buy, sell or rent a property, don’t hesitate to contact your local Raine & Horne office.