IMPORTANT changes to rental laws during COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency period
The COVID-19 emergency period for residential tenancies has now ended. New laws have started to help tenants and landlords as we transition out of the emergency period. Financial support for tenants and landlords affected by COVID-19 have been extended to 31 March 2021. Read about the:
It is an owner’s responsibility to maintain a rental property in good repair at all times during a tenancy. There are different rules for:
- general repairs
- urgent repairs
- emergency repairs.
If the repairs are urgent or emergency repairs, they must be completed as soon as possible. Urgent repairs relate to essential services such as emergency repairs due to damage to the property.
Length of time for repairs
An owner must have general repairs (that are not the fault of the tenant) completed within 28 days of the tenant telling them of the need for the repair.
Exception - fixing cooking stoves
There is an exception – if the general repair relates to a cooking stove. In this situation the stove must be fixed within 14 days of being notified.
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