Prosecutions begin against landlords with substandard properties

By Anonymous
March 17, 2017

Scoop.co.nz has reported (17/03/2017) on the first successful prosecution of a landlord for renting a substandard property.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team pursued a landlord that failed to provide a dry, warm and safe home under the Government's 2016 tenancy law reform.

The law change also requires smoke alarms and home insulation to be installed by mid 2019.

Satya Silan has been ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal to give a rental refund of $15,840 as well as an additional $750 in exemplary damages for charging rent to a family with a young child in an unconsented garage.

Dr Nick Smith, Building and Construction Minister, says that this prosecution sends a strong message to landlords that they must ensure that their rental properties are warm, safe and dry.

The aim of the MBIE is to improve compliance rather than prosecute every case. So far, 242 complaints have been received.