March 9th.2016
The Manawatu Tenants Union is highlighting the need for all landlords to be licensed just like all other business operations.Under current legislation anyone can trade as a landlord without experience or knowledge of tenancy requirements.A new landlord licensing system would require all landlords to register with the local authority.Landlord registers have been set up in parts of the UK as a way of targeting rogue landlords,who rent out sub-standard properties.It would be good for tenants to know something of the kind of person their landlord was.After all landlords want to know every thing about their tenants financial/personal history etc.It would be a character reference for the tenant so as they know who they are dealing with.The licensing of all landlords would be seen as a code of good practice for their business interests. This could be of help for overseas born landlords about both their rights and obligations as landlords and the rule of law in New Zealand concerning rental accommodation.
