Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Landlording
Friday, August 28, 2020
Trust beneficiary's ability to move into the rental property remains up in the air
A common question that has been circulating in the lead-up to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 coming into effect: Whether a tenancy at a trust-owned rental property can be terminated under s 51(1)(a)? The current s51(1)(a) requires the landlord to give a 42-day notice to terminate if the owner or any member of the owners' family intend to move into the property as a principa... read more
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
Louise Benson: How to vet and on-board a first-time renter
Most of us have been tenants at some stage in our lives, but there was always that first time. As property managers, working with first-timers requires flexibility and sometimes, creativity. When an application has been received by someone completely new to renting this can prove challenging. We may only have the applicant’s parents or a disgruntl... read more
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Shhh! Heat pump breaches quiet enjoyment?
An APIA members’ recent endeavour to comply with the HHS heating standards brought a couple of issues to the forefront that are worth unpacking here. Her experience in brief: She owns a block of three adjoining flats and made inquiries with a heat pump installer (with whom she has an existing working relationship with) about putting heat pumps into all three units. The installer assessed ... read more
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
HHS Heat pumps: A Q&A with Tim Fawdray
Given predictable increase in activities in the heat pump market (the season, HHS compliance deadline and the lockdown being behind us 🤞🏻), we've gotten together with Tim Fawdray, Managing Director of Varcoe, to tackle some of the common issues landlords face when purchasing a heat pump: Q. The heating assessment tool is only telling insofar as what the required heating capacity... read more
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
COVID-19: Freeze on rent increases explained
Based on the number of inquiries we have received concerning the temporary rules for rent increases (under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Amendment Act), this FAQ feels appropriate: What is being frozen? Rent increases not rents. Landlords are prohibited from increasing rents during the freeze period. What is not being frozen? Rents and rent incre... read more
Thursday, April 02, 2020
Covid-19: Some tips for landlords to manage rent arrears
It should come as no surprise to anyone that over the last two weeks, most of the inquiries we have received from landlords concern rent. More specifically, arrears. Our responses to each of these inquiries largely reflect the following: 1. Get yourself sorted It has been made abundantly clear to APIA members that in times like this, cash-flow is king. Take a good lo... read more
Monday, March 30, 2020
Covid-19: Should you continue to issue 14-day notices
Many landlords are understandably worried after stories like this emerged in the media over the last two weeks. On the one hand, landlords, by and large, understand renting is a human business. On the other hand, many landlords are frustrated by being excluded from most of the government's relief packages in light of Covid-19. Not to mention, rent arrear is a risk that is very pres... read more
Friday, March 27, 2020
Covid-19: Mortgage holidays
A what-do-we-know-what-don't-we-know about mortgage holidays so far: Debt-deferral, not debt-forgiveness: Interest will continue to accrue for the duration of the 'holiday'; More information to come: Most banks have signaled that more information/firmed up packages will be announced the week of 30th March; Packages designed more for owner-occupiers rather than i... read more
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Level 4: Socialise reliefs, privatise solutions
Jeff Bezos said earlier this week that there is 'no instruction manual for how to feel at a time like this' and he is exactly right. There is still a lot to learn and unpack about Covid-19, Level 4 and what all of this means to each and every single one of us. So, for the time being, give yourself a pass to feel what you feel. We are not here to tell you what is normal. What we are he... read more
Upcoming Events
01-Oct-2020
APIA Property Mixer (Silverdale)
07-Oct-2020
Members Only Webinar - Healthy Homes Standards compliance guide for landlords and property managers
13-Oct-2020
Members Only Investor Keynote
