Who are we?

Manawatu Tenants Union is a community organisation established in 1983 to support tenants in Palmerston North and the Manawatu region by:

• Advising, assisting and supporting tenants in their dealings with landlords
• Empowering tenants to act in their own best interests in regard to their accommodation needs
• Educating the community on the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords
• Networking with other government and community agencies.

It is affiliated to the International Union of Tenants and is a member of Community Housing Aotearoa and the Manawatu Community Housing Trust. Manawatu Tenants Union is based in Palmerston North and has networks both within  the city and in the wider Manawatu community.

Manawatu Tenants Union employs a coordinator who keeps up to date with developments in housing policy both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas and is available to assist with tenancy advice and information.

All services offered by Manawatu Tenants Union are free of charge.

What do we do?

Manawatu Tenants Union can help with:

• Resolving disputes between tenants and landlords
• Support at tenancy tribunals and hearings
• Providing information and advice
• Providing information seminars for organisations and educational institutions such as schools and tertiary providers
• Making a referral to other organisations when other assistance is needed.

Manwatu Tenants Union offers advice about:

• Fixed and variable term contracts
• Landlord responsibilities
• Tenant rights and obligations
• Dispute processes
• Tenancy Tribunal procedures and bonds
• Flatmate agreements
• problems with neighbours
• Security of tenure.

Finding a house or flat to rent

Where to look:

• The 'accommodation to let' section of the Manawatu Standard on Wednesday and Saturday
• Trade me
• Housing Advice Centre
• A letting agency. They will charge you a fee, usually one week's rent plus GST.

Some Dos and Don'ts:

DO

• Take a friend with you when dealing with landlords/agents so they can witness what was said in case a dispute arises
• Make sure you get advice before signing a fixed-term tenancy
• Avoid agreements where you rent a room in a house/flat and share bathroom and kitchen facilities with other tenants
• Take some photos of the flat/house when you move in
• Take some more photos when you have cleaned the flat/house before you move out.

DON'T

• Hand over cash without getting a receipt showing the landlord/agent's name.

REMEMBER

Once you have signed a tenancy agreement you are committed

Tenancy Agreements

There are two types of tenancy agreement

A periodic tenancy is one that lasts until either the tenant or the landlord ends the agreement.

A fixed-term tenancy is for a set period of time, for example twelve months. You cannot give notice to leave before the agreed date. The landlord cannot give you notice to quit before the agreed date.

Bonds and rent in advance

• A landlord cannot ask for more than two weeks rent in advance
• A landlord cannot ask for more than four weeks bond. 

Don't sign a fixed-term agreement unless you are sure you can stay there for the agreed length of time

Rights and obligations of landlords and tenants

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Residential Tenancy Act sets out tenants' and landlords' rights and obligations. When renting it is important to understand both your rights and the obligations you have towards your landlord. Following are some of the important ones you should know about.

Rights and obligations of landlords

A landlord must:

• Sign a tenancy agreement with their tenant and give a copy to the tenant before the tenancy begins
• Make sure the property is clean and in a fit and habitable condition. We would encourage tenants to take photos of the property before they move in as proof of the condition of the property
• Maintain the property in a reasonable state of repair throughout the tenancy
• Make sure that locks and fastenings are adequate
• Provide a receipt if the rent is paid by cash or cheque
• Give the tenant at least 60 days written notice of a rent increase
• Give the tenant 48 hours written notice of a property inspection - maximum of one inspection per month
• Give the tenant 90 days notice to end the tenancy or 42 days if the property is put on the market for sale, or if the landlord or family wish to move into the property. All notices must be in writing.

A landlord cannot:

• Ask for more than 2 weeks rent in advance
• Ask for more than 4 weeks bond
• Change the locks without the tenant's consent
• Enter the property without the tenant's consent, other than the arranged inspections
• Interfere with the gas, electricity, water supply, or telephone
• Take a tenant's personal property to hold or sell if the tenant is behind with the rent.

Rights and obligations of tenants

A tenant must:

• Pay the rent on time
• Keep the property reasonably clean and tidy
• Tell the landlord as soon as possible of any damage or repairs needed
• Make sure that the limit set in the tenancy agreement on the number of people allowed to stay in the property is adhered to
• Leave at the end of the tenancy, remove all goods and rubbish, leave the property reasonably clean and tidy
• Repair or pay for repairs to any damage caused intentionally or carelessly by the tenant or the tenant's guests
• Give 3 weeks notice in writing to end the tenancy.

A tenant must not:

• Unreasonably refuse the landlord entry when they are entitled to enter
• Intentionally or carelessly damage the property or permit anyone else to do so
• Interefere with the quiet enjoyment of other tenants or neighbours
• Change the locks without the landlord's permission.

Contact us

For free advice and support contact Kevin Reilly at the Manawatu Tenants' Union

Community House, King Street, Palmerston North

or phone (06) 3577435 anytime and leave a message on the answerphone if there is no-one in the office to take your call.