Everything you need to know about flatting in Dunedin The OUSA ...

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIESA brief translation of tenancy lawThe landlord cannot discriminate (as defined by the Human Rights Act) against prospective tenants.This means it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from, what you believe or who youshag, you should be treated equally and with respect.TENANTS are responsible for:– Paying your bond and rent on time– Paying for your utilities like electricity, phone, gas, etc if you use them– Telling the landlord if there’s something wrong with the flat –whether it was your doing or not– Fixing (or paying for) any damage you do to the flat beyond normalwear and tear– Fixing (or paying for) any damage your visitors do– Keeping the place reasonably clean and tidy– Not letting anyone live in the flat who isn’t on the lease– Making sure nothing illegal is going down at the flatThe LANDLORD is responsible for:– Taking care of the paperwork– Giving you a receipt for your bond– Sending your bond to the Department of Building and Housing within23 working days– Making sure the flat and grounds are reasonably clean and tidy whenyou move in– Keeping the flat maintained to a reasonable state of repair – thismeans no leaks, holes, health hazards, etc– Fixing things in a timely manner if needed– Paying you back if you have to fix something urgently (but only ifyou’ve tried to contact them first and it wasn’t something you brokeby being a dick)– Paying the rates and other property costs– Trying their best to stop any of their other tenants fromdisturbing your peaceonce the heatpump arrives in April. If an increase isn’t written intoyour agreement, your rent has to stay the same the whole time. If thelandlord doesn’t fulfill the agreement, for instance, if your agreementsays that a heat pump will be installed by March and it isn’t, pop intoStudent Support and we’ll help you out.If you’re on a periodic lease, your landlord can put the rent up if theygive you 60 days notice. BUT, they can’t do this in the first 6 months ofyour tenancy, and they can’t do it again for 6 months after putting upthe rent.Getting things FixedIf something needs fixing at the flat, let the landlord know. It’s a goodidea to put things in writing as well.If the landlord doesn’t do anything you can give them a ‘10 workingdays letter’ which is official notice that they need to meet theirresponsibilities otherwise you’ll take the matter further. You can get atemplate for the letter from dbh.govt.nz/pub-sorting-out-problemsConfused?If you have questions about tenancy matters, you cancall the Department of Building and Housing’s helpline:0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262). You can also contact the OUSAStudent Support Centre for help or to ask questions. Emailhelp@ousa.org.nz, phone 479 5448 or pop into 5 Ethel Benjamin Pl.Your landlord must give notice before coming into your flatunless it’s an emergency. They have to give you:– 24 hours’ notice before coming to fix something (or sendingsomeone else to fix something, like a plumber or exorcist)– 48 hours’ notice before coming to do a flat inspection.Rent IncreasesIf you’re on a fixed-term lease the landlord can’t put the rentup unless they write it into your tenancy agreement. Theymight write something like “heatpump to be installed in April,from which point rent will increase by $5 per week” and if yousign the agreement, then you’re agreeing to pay more rentOUSA Flatting Mag – 11