1 Relevant criminal convictions: Online background checks are done to avoid tenanting to potentially destructive tenants. However when completing a background check it is a case by case process. Which involves considering the nature of the offence and the severity.

2 Good credit history: Checking an applicant’s credit history may help you avoid rent arrears. As you’ll have upfront insight into whether or not they’ve been responsible with their money in the past.

3 Stable income and employment: Landlords and Property Managers need to feel confident in their tenant’s ability to pay rent and on time each week. This helps to have a employment reference included in the application form.

4 First impressions: Remembering first impressions are everything! You are more than likely to be remembered by your first impression. Whether it is over the phone or at a viewing. Respect is very important.

5 Reference checks: With any prospecting tenant a reference check is always completed to get a better understanding of the potential tenants renting background and personal character.

We are please to be signed up as a trusted partner of tenancy.co.nz. As we strive to do better everyday and provide excellent service to our clients. A service that constantly provides us with the knowledge and support with the ever changing laws and regulations around property management.

The 1st of July deadline dawned on us fairy quickly and it is important all landlords understand what that means when a new tenancy begins.

As you may already know after July 1st 2021 all new tenancies and renewals in rental homes will have to fully comply with the Healthy Homes standards within 90 days of the start of the tenancy or renewal.

Landlords can face a fine of $7200 if they fail to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards (whether the property is non-compliant on one or all of the standards).

There is also a fine for landlords providing a false or misleading statement or information. This has gone up from $500 to $900. 

A reminder update for everyone, tenants and landlords.

As of the 1st of July, all new tenancies and renewals in rental homes will have to fully comply with the Healthy Homes standards within 90 days of the start of the tenancy or renewal.

We here at T And T Property Management have been working hard at getting properties healthy homes compliant within the time frame. We have been working with many preferred suppliers that have played a huge part in getting these properties compliant.

Our tenants have been very helpful in allowing our suppliers to go in and get these jobs done. We appreciate each and every one of our tenants that has made this process a little easier.

1. Bonds, we don’t hold bonds it is held by a third party
2. We are the middle person and act on behalf of the owner so cant always make decisions on the spot
3. When suppliers do jobs we use trusted suppliers but it is out of our control for some jobs on their time frame
4. Coming to view a property is like going to a job interview – first impressions always count
5. When it comes to any property management queries we do our best to respond as soon as we can, however our job means we are often in and out of the office.

When it comes to choosing a property manager it is important to take time and do your research. Having a good property manager can help attract and keep good tenants . Below are 5 qualities the best people in Property Management tend to have.

Experience: A good property manager will have thorough a understanding on all things property, especially an understanding of legislation.

Communication: A strong property manager should have exceptional communication skills, both written and oral.

Organization: A property manager must have contact information for both owners and tenants, along with phone numbers for maintenance staff, contractors and vendors. A property manager maintains a calendar of due dates for inspections and rental payments.

People skills: One of the most important qualities a property manager should possess is the ability to work well with people. Negotiation skills are a must in working out issues with angry tenants or persuading an owner to make improvements.

As winter sweeps in we find ourselves spending more time at home and inside than the warmer months. This means, we often see an increase in electricity bills from keeping lights on and heaters going as the temperature drops. The extra costs can be challenging for some people. Below is a few tips and tricks on how you can stay warm and save on some costs.

Keep the heat in:
Closing your curtains during the winter can help reduce up to 10 per cent of heat loss. Close your curtains and night or on windows that don’t catch much sun to trap the heat in. Although, opening the curtains on a sunny day can help boost the temperature via solar energy

Thermostat:
Using a thermostat can be a smart idea, however it is best to lower your thermostat during the night and also when you are away.

Replace your lights with LED’s:
LED light bulbs use up to 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs, while producing the same amount of light, and last much longer.

Draught stop:
Block up unused chimneys and stop draughts around doors and windows. You can make your own draught ‘snakes’ by stuffing rugby socks or pantyhose with newspaper or cushion filling. Up to 20 per cent of heating can be lost through draughts.

Layer up:
Staying warm this winter doesn’t have to blow your energy bill through the roof. In fact, it is quite easy to stay warm by layering up with quality clothing and blankets. Putting on extra layers of clothing, investing in thermals and having a good blanket or throw to use when your cold.

We are now in the middle of Autumn with Winter just peering around the corner. We all know with winter comes a lot of rain, wind, hail and quite possibly snow! Your gutters may be the last thing that comes to mind when getting ready for Winter. However if you are not prepared, they can become quite damaged and costly. There are a few ways to avoid some damage and prepare your gutters for winter.

Clears the leaves and debris out of your gutters.

While you should keep your gutters clear of leaves in Autumn. It should also be a high priority on your winter list. When its snows or freezes over night it can add a lot of weight to the gutters and cause them to become detached and collapse.

Realign your gutters.

You will want to make sure your gutters are realigned properly to avoid standing water in your gutters.

Repair any wear and tear.

Make sure your gutters are in working order for the winter months ahead. Seal any cracks, check all joins, and check for any missing or loose fasteners holding your gutters down to avoid them from flying of the roof and causing more damage to your home or those around you.   

Check your downspouts.

You also want to make sure that all downspouts are clear, as a backup could cause your downspout to freeze and crack later in the season.

Below are some questions and answers to our most frequently asked questions from property owners.

How long does it take to rent my property once empty? We like to allow 1 month however it is very rarely that it takes us long.

How do you vet tenants? We do reference checks, credit checks, Facebook checks and google search

How much bond do you take? 4 weeks rent which is held with the Tenancy Service

How often do we receive rent payments? Fortnightly owner payments

What do you charge? Between 8 and 10% + GST depending on the property and $35 + GST for an inspection

How often do you complete an inspection? Every 3 months, 6 weeks for the first to make sure everything is okay.

Working smoke alarms are required in every rental property in New Zealand. Smoke alarms are to be installed 3 metres of each bedroom door or in every other room where a person sleeps. When your sleeping you lose your sense of smell, so don’t assume your smoke alarms are working. Check them regularly by pushing the test button to sound the alarm. Fire can spread incredibly fast. You can protect yourself and others in your home by taking 5mins to check your smoke alarm is in working order.  

Handy tip: if you can’t reach use the end of a broom.

Head over to the Fire and Emergency website for an easy-to-follow maintenance guide https://fireandemergency.nz/at-home/smoke-alarms/