Over the last few days, we have shared with you details of three of the major changes to our residential tenancies legislation. The ones we feel will impact our clients the most. They are not the only updates to the regulations that will take effect from the 1st of October, but they are definitely the ones we don’t want you to be blindsided by. Let’s dive in.
Repair Orders
This process has been introduced for tenants who are perhaps frustrated because an owner is refusing to take action to repair an item and feel they have no other course of action. They can apply to the Tribunal for a Repair Order.
There are strict guidelines around the process that the tenant must follow and this update to the legislation provides a clearer course of action for them to follow.
The intention behind the introduction of this change is to force those property owners who flatly refuse to maintain their properties and basically take advantage of their tenant’s situations, to do the right thing.
Entry Condition Reports
Without a doubt, one of the most important documents we prepare with regard to a tenancy.
At the moment, a tenant has 3 days to sign and return this report, noting any items they dispute.
From October 1st, this increases to 7 days. This change is not unexpected and only requires a very simple tweak to our internal processes to ensure we are complying with the new requirements.
A Couple of Other Changes
These are to do with the changing of locks, particularly with regard to domestic and family violence situations and are pretty straightforward. Another update deals with the process when a tenant passes away and serves to make things much clearer than they have been in the past.
You may or may not be aware of the domestic and family violence provisions that are currently in place. These came into effect nearly 12 months ago and they are quite extensive. Please know if your tenant is impacted, we will reach out to you personally to discuss the situation and what action is required to be taken.
Minimum Housing Standards
These are going to start taking effect from the 1st of September 2023 for new tenancies and for existing tenancies, the following year. These are quite reasonable and for the most part, are providing clarity around what someone could expect if they were paying to rent a property. Things like a functioning cooktop and hot and cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking.
Responsible property owners should not have any issues or concerns with these standards. We will be sure to raise with you any concerns or potential issues we may have that your property is not going to meet these minimum housing standards well before the legislation comes into effect so that you can ensure your property is compliant.
So… our overview of the new legislation updates has now come to an end. Phew, we hear you say.
Please let us reiterate, that if you have a question or concern about these changes or anything else to do with your property, please reach out to us. We are here to help.