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RENTAL REPAIRS

Tenant wanting repairs to be done

The tenant should talk to the landlord and follow up in writing. There are examples of notices available from Tenancy Services. It is in the landlord's best interest to keep a building maintained.

Urgent Repairs

If a repair is serious and urgent, and likely to cause injury to people or property, and if the tenant has tried but has been unable to contact the landlord, then the tenant is entitled to have the repair work done, and to ask the landlord to reimburse them for it.

If a tenant has asked the landlord to do repairs the tenant thinks are necessary, and has given the landlord reasonable time in which to do it, but nothing has been done, then the tenant should contact Tenancy Services and talk to a staff member. They will advise the tenant of the next step to take. This may involve giving the landlord a letter giving reasonable time (such as a ‘10 Working Day' letter) for the work to be done. (Go here further details www.dbh.govt.nz/maintaining-property.)

If the work is not done the next step would be a Tenancy Tribunal application. A tenant could ask for an order that the landlord do the work, for compensation to get the work done, or for the tenancy to be ended.

Landlord wanting repairs to be done

Sometimes tenants damage a property, or neglect to keep it clean and tidy. If a landlord feels the problem can be solved (the damage repaired or the place tidied up), they can give the tenant a notice giving them 10 working days to get the work done. (There are examples of notices available from Tenancy Services.) Working days don't include weekends or public holidays so 10 working days would usually be a fortnight. If the work is not done, then an application may be made to the Tenancy Tribunal for an order to do the repairs, or for the tenancy to be ended for breaching the Tenancy Agreement, if it is decided the situation is serious enough.