Insulation - your new legal obligations
We'd like to make sure you understand the recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act on insulation. We know most landlords want to stay within the law and do the right thing by their tenants.
You must include an Insulation Statement on all new Tenancy agreements signed since 1 July 2016
You must now disclose in the Insulation Statement whether there is insulation, where it is, what type and what condition it is in. This is so your tenants can make an informed decision. A landlord who does not make a complete insulation statement or includes anything they know to be false or misleading is committing an unlawful act.
Find out more about how to write up your Insulation Statement
You must insulate your rental home where practicable - ceiling and underfloor - by 1 July 2019
The insulation must comply with the new regulations and be safely installed. Good quality insulation helps make your rental home healthier for tenants and more energy efficient. A landlord who fails to comply with the law by 1 July 2019 is committing an unlawful act and may be liable for a penalty of up to $4000. Our new Compliance and Investigations team will make enforcement a priority.
Find out more about the law on insulating your rental home.
We advise you to get the work done now to avoid a rush before the deadline, as there will be no excuses for missing it. Hiring a professional to do the job will be safer and make it easier to meet your legal obligations. There can be a serious safety risk to both landlords and tenants if it's not done properly.
Find out more about insulation safety
There are a limited number of government grants available to landlords to cover 50% of the cost of insulation. These are on a first come, first served basis, if you meet these criteria:
1. Your named tenant holds a Community Services Card, and
2. The house was built before the year 2000
Find out more about the Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Home grants.
We recommend you shop around now for an insulation professional - some offer discounts in the summer months. A professional can also help you to write up your insulation statement properly.
To be sure you stay within the law and avoid penalties, we urge you to act now.
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Paul Phillips
Northland Regional Manager
Smart Energy Solutions
021 704 478
0800 888 766
paul.phillips@smartenergysolutions.co.nz
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.4% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
Test Your Wits! Today's Riddle Will Keep You Guessing!
Only one colour, but not one size,
Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.
Present in the sun, but not in rain,
Doing no harm, and feeling no pain.
What is it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.