These are the three essential things landlords need to have in place to start a successful tenancy.
· ONE: Healthy Homes
The Healthy Homes standard which became mandatory at the start of any tenancy on 1 July 2025, is the minimum standard a rental home must achieve. Not having a Healthy Home compliant property can result in fines up to $7,200 for each infraction, with other fines for not providing a Healthy Home statement or providing a misleading statement. This includes keeping your home to the standard.
The five areas which comprise of Healthy Homes are;
Heating – how much heating is required to heat main living space?
Insulation – what insulation is found in the ceiling, walls and floor?
Draughts – is the home free of draughts?
Moisture – is the home free from moisture and how does it move water away from the home?
Ventilation – is there ventilation to the exterior of the home, where is it placed and what diameters are the ventilation systems?
Home and Co uses a trusted third party who are thorough and professional to determine whether a home meets this standard.
· TWO: Understand Your Insurance
All landlords should have insurance for their investment home. Reading and understanding what your insurer requires of you as the owner is very important. A few of the basic pieces of information your insurer will include in the policy wording;
- How often are inspections needed?
- What records are you required to keep?
- What should you do if your tenant falls into arrears?
- What are your excesses?
- Is pet damage covered?
· THREE: Maintenance & Cleanliness
Your home should have all maintenance completed prior to any tenants moving in. This can include preventative maintenance such as heat pumps and log burners being serviced, gutters being cleaned especially if going into or out of Winter. Reviewing and checking smoke alarms at the start of every tenancy is mandatory, these require at least annual check-ups, while most smoke alarms advise regular testing and cleaning. Maintenance is on-going and landlords should be proactive at resolving any issues which may arise during a tenancy, it serves their tenants health and enjoyment of the home and protects the landlords investment.
Setting the standard of cleanliness for your tenants is important, having your home professionally cleaned is a great way to ensure your tenants start their tenancy in the best possible state. It also signals how you would like the home returned at the end of the tenancy. Tenants are only expected to return a home reasonably clean.
As a landlord there are so many things to consider, having these 3 key areas covered will help ensure a successful start to a tenancy. Home and Co Property Management specialises in long-term property management in and around Wanaka.
Home & Co Property Management Wanaka
Nobody knows the Wanaka rental market better.