Melissa Benge

While responsibility for building maintenance of the actual house on a rental property is clearly the responsibility of the landlord or property manager, upkeep of the gardens and lawns is much more open to interpretation. It begs of landlords the questions: do I take care of them? Do I leave it to the tenants, or do I get a contractor in? Let’s delve into the pros and cons of each option and how they may affect your relationship with your tenants...

Talk of reform to address the ‘housing crisis’ has been dominating our headlines since the new coalition government took up house in parliament back in October 2017. One could be forgiven for assuming all is not well in the housing market and that now is not the time to buy, sell or rent. But a quick revision of recent developments paints a not so gloomy picture for all those involved. Foreign house-buyer ban policy may be eased, resulting in more housing...

In late November 2017, Andrew King, executive officer for The New Zealand Property Investors Federation (NZPIF), warned landlords to check the legality of their investment properties. The warning followed a Tenancy Tribunal ruling in April 2017, instructing Dunedin landlord, Vic Inglis to repay nearly $11,000 in rent to his tenant, Natalie Parry, after it was discovered his property contained unconsented work during Parry’s tenancy. Judge Kevin Phillips later overturned the ruling – which was based on a 2013 High Court...

In July of 2017 we posed the question – would you make a good landlord? We talked about the practical demands placed on a typical landlord to help you assess your suitability. Today we’re going to concentrate on the financial side of the equation, delving into the monetary pros and cons of owning a rental property. Higher leverage than other asset classes Perhaps the most obvious financial positive to becoming a landlord is the lower investment required when compared to other...

The latest buzzword in the stream of idealistic, modern trends is minimalism. Not the 1950s art movement, but the act of reducing the physical and emotional clutter in our homes and lives for a happier existence. The pillar of the minimalism mindset is rethinking what you truly value and what you really need to lead a meaningful life. Can this mental trimming of the fat change our approach to house hunting and help first time buyers find ‘home’ sooner? We’re obsessed...

Auckland’s soaring house prices, traffic headaches and growing population are motivating its residents to up sticks and relocate elsewhere in God’s Zone. But where are they all going and why? Deciding to make the move Considering such a radical sea change is both frightening and exciting. The scary part is changing jobs and finding a house while holding down your current post – a logistical nightmare. The exciting part and the dream for most is the prospect of more affordable housing,...

Selling your property privately is an attractive prospect at first glance – you have more control and you save money by not using a real estate agent. Before launching into this endeavour, what’s needed is a careful look at the effort you’ll invest and how the price you get may not render it worthwhile. So, let’s pull back the curtain and take that careful look at the prospect of selling privately. Selling property is a job made up of multiple jobs...

Selling an inherited property can be a minefield and will likely come at a time when the mourning process renders you emotionally and mentally exhausted. To help, First Avenue Property have outlined a few things to be mindful of before engaging with a lawyer for further information and essential legal advice. Requesting an Updated Title Search To see where things stand with the ownership of the property, you’ll need to start by requesting an updated title search. This will uncover...

Insulation will be compulsory in rental properties from July 2019. Subsidies on offer are leading to price hikes and huge variances in quotes. In this post we examine what landlords need to do to be compliant and what to look out for when dealing with installers. What Has Changed And Who It Affects Changes to The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 came into effect on 1 July 2016. The changes mean that come 1 July 2019, it will be compulsory for all...

When people think about purchasing an investment property, many of them fail to consider if being a landlord would actually suit their personality and lifestyle. Over the years, we’ve worked with countless numbers of landlords who have turned to us for help after realising that managing their property is more work than they expected. The reality is that being a landlord is a very demanding and challenging job. If you’re thinking about becoming a landlord for the first time, we encourage...