Tenancy Services:
Tenancy services will be your main information hub for tenancy. They have helpful staff who can provide you advice regarding your own tenancy and have many helpful resources on their website. It is also helpful to familiarise yourself with the Residential Tenancies Act so you can understand your rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of your landlord.
Rights and Responsibilities as a tenant
Residential Tenancies Act
Contact tenancy services.
Healthy Home Standards
Landlords are required to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards which help ensure rentals meet the minimum standard in heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping.
Healthy Home Standards
Unenforceable Clauses in Tenancy Agreements:
Landlords may have clauses in your tenancy agreement that are unenforceable as they conflict with the Residential Tenancies Act. One of the most common unenforceable clauses is having to have carpets professionally cleaned at the end of a tenancy.
Unenforceable Clauses
Disputes and the Tenancy Tribunal:
If you are having a dispute with your landlord you have options available to you to have this resolved through Tenancy services; self-resolution, FastTrack resolution, mediation or Tenancy Tribunal hearings. lt may be daunting to begin a disputes process with your landlord but the tenancy services will be able to advise you on which route will be most beneficial and appropriate for you. As a tenant you do have rights and you are allowed to exercise these if you think that your landlord may be in breach of the Residential Tenancy Act.
Tenancy Disputes
Legal Advice:
If you feel as though you need the advice of a lawyer many regions have community law which is free to access if you are on a low income, benefit or student allowance.
Community Law