A recent independent national survey of tenants highlighted the significant value placed on property safety. In fact, 90% of respondents believe the safety and condition of a property is very important with just under 60% prepared to pay more rent for a home that has been officially certified as being safe. Conducted by Micromex Research,…
Consumer Protection has recently received an increased number of complaints from tenants about unacceptable living conditions. Are you and your team aware of the requirements under the Acts when this happens? It is the responsibility of every landlord to ensure their rental property is safe for tenants and visitors to the premises. This is a…
While spring has only just begun, bushfire season is already upon us with much of the country facing a significant bushfire threat due to above average temperatures and low rainfall. The time to act is now. Fire authorities across the country are bracing themselves for a tough season this year and have brought forward the…
Winter is here so now is the time (unless you’ve already ticked this off your to-do list) to ensure all your landlords assess their properties for any issues that need attention to safeguard their tenants and protect the property and their finances. Not sure what should be on the winter maintenance checklist? The winter maintenance…
New Zealand’s final Healthy Homes Standards for rental homes have just been announced and will come into effect on July 1. The standards, which are available to read in full on the New Zealand Legislation website, set minimum requirements for rental housing with a focus on making homes warm, dry and generally healthier for tenants….
April 29 marked the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, an annual national event run by the Chase and Tyler Foundation to raise awareness of fuel burning appliance safety. With days becoming shorter and winter’s chill beginning to kick in, many of us are starting to dust off our heaters and get them ready for…
In February, the NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean announced new plans to change how buildings are constructed in NSW. The changes were made in response to the Shergold-Weir Report and include a requirement that building designers and engineers declare that their plans comply with the Building Code of Australia and for…
While summer is technically almost over, many parts of Australia are still sweltering through some of the hottest, driest conditions we have seen. And these conditions are set to continue into autumn. When scorching temperatures combine with strong dry winds, it is a recipe for potential disaster. This could place lives and property at risk,…
At the end of October, the UK press announced greater protection for renters thanks to plans to overhaul health and safety standards for rental accommodation. New Zealand rental property standards also go further in protecting tenant health and safety. And those are just two global examples. Many in the industry believe it’s only a matter…
Common law in Australia dictates that landlords have a duty of care to guarantee the safety of rented properties. If someone (whether it be a tenant or a visitor to the property) is injured at one of the properties you manage, that person could sue the landlord, the agency and even you. Did you know…
If you are a property manager, landlord or tenant in Queensland, you only have until the end of the month to have your say on proposed reforms to the state’s 40-year old residential tenancy laws. With more than a third of Queenslander’s living in rental properties and stories emerging in the media about potentially serious…
PropertySafe and many other industry experts are calling on the Government to mandate balcony inspections, after a balcony collapsed at a rented residential property in Melbourne’s east killing two people and injuring 17 others. Emergency services described “chaotic” scenes after the balcony collapsed during a Christmas party in Doncaster East on Saturday. Investigations are now…
