OUSA Flatting Mag 2011

The OUSA Student Support

flatting mag Everything you need to know about flatting in Dunedin

Otago University Students’ Association OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Contents

Intro Editor: Matt Tucker Designer: Andrew Jacombs Published by: Critical Publications Publications Manager: Julia Hollingsworth Compiled & written by: OUSA Student Support Centre.

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Finding the Perfect Flat Suburb Review Rent Prices Getting Legal Bond Rights and Responsibilities Flatmates The OUSA Student Support Centre Flatting Agreement Budget How to Make a Chores Wheel Setting up Shop Insurance How to Stop Your Great Aunty Mildew From Moving In I’ve Got the Power (Bill) Food Eco Flatting Serious Tenancy Delusions Important Contacts

When you go flatting, do so with your eyes wide open! You will make some amazing friends and have a great time. But it can also go badly, much like the movie Alien, where something bursts forth from your chest one night, and now hangs around the flat, leaving acid like messes and eating your friends. This magazine contains all of the information you need, so you can have that amazing experience.

We at OUSA Student Support deal with every flatting issue under the sun. We see what happens when things go pear shaped, so we know a thing or two about this stuff. Read these pages carefully and plan ahead. Remember, if things go wrong, we’re here for you, so feel free to drop in and see us.

Matty Manager OUSA Student Support Centre OUSA Flatting Mag –

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FINDING THE PERFECT FLAT STOP!

Step 1

And don’t panic. Before you dash off to sign up for that scummy flat 6 months in advance, take some time to think about your options.

There’s no need to rush – Dunedin has more than enough flats for you all, and the best bargains come to those who wait. Why live in a shit hole when you could live in a mansion in the valley for the same price!

Browse

Step 2

The University’s Accommodation Office is the best place to go. They give out lists of vacancies in existing flats and whole flats for rent (available online too: otago.ac.nz/flats), or give Trade Me a go! You don’t have to pay a letting fee, so if an agency asks for one, look elsewhere. Agencies may try to convince you that flats are in limited supply. We promise this is not true.

Going Flat Hunting

Step 3

Contact the flat’s landlord. They will talk to the tenants and organise a time for you to look at it. Current tenants might growl at you if you turn up unannounced asking to look through their flat. Set a budget and don’t pay more than you can afford!

Quality Control Go to housingstars.co.nz and see if your prospective flats have STAR ratings. If they don’t, that could be a bad sign! Have a think about these quality indicators, and use your eyes and nose. If it smells damp and you can see mould, you definitely won’t love it in winter.

Step 4

Step 5

Know Your Rights

Make sure you know your rights and responsibilities (check them out on page 11) before you sign that lease. If you can’t afford it, don’t take it.

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Key Quality Indicators Noise – How soundproof is the flat?

– How close are the neighbours?

– Is there another flat upstairs? Can you hear elephants overhead?

– Is there anything noisy nearby, like a pub, bottle bank or busy intersection?

– How close is the lounge to the bedrooms? Will there be noise problems?

Structure – Does it look like it might blow over in the wind?

– Does it look like it will stand up to an earthquake?

– Do all the windows and doors close and seal properly? Double glazed windows are amazing.

– Are there holes in the walls, roof, floor, doors etc?

– If the place hasn’t been looked after structurally, the landlord is probably a neglectful loser who will take advantage of you.

Warmth – How will you keep warm and how much will it cost you?

– Heatpumps are great if there’s insulation.

– Fireplaces are good if you can get cheap wood.

– High ceilings = harder to heat.

– Sun? – Curtains?

– Weird smells can indicate dampness.

– Look up. Peeling paint and mould indicate a damp dive.

Going it Alone?

If you’re a lone flat hunter looking to move in with randoms, how do you check out the flat and its inhabitants? Here are a few quick tips: – Look in the recycling bin. Is it sporting half the stock of super liquor?

– What is the kitchen like? Is there grime you’d need a pick axe to remove?

– Are there any bitchy notes lying around?

– Think of some key questions to ask prospective flatmates that will help you identify any major areas of potential disagreement.

– How clean and tidy is the place? If they couldn’t be bothered cleaning up before showing you through, they probably never will.

– While it might seem cool to live in a party central flat, trust us, it gets old really quick.

– Go with your gut. If you feel uneasy, don’t go there.

Check out Speed Flatting – the easy way to find and screen potential flatties. It’s like Speed Dating, but for flats! Speed Flatting is hosted by OUSA and the Accommodation Office at the start of each semester – keep and eye out for posters or email support@ousa.org.nz to stay in the loop.

Space – How big a room do you need to fit your stuff in?

– Do the rooms have enough power points for you to plug in all your gadgets?

– If there’s a closet sized room, who’ll get it? Will everyone pay the same price per room?

– Is there plenty of fridge and cupboard space for everyone’s food?

– Is the lounge the right size and shape for everyone to sit and watch TV comfortably?

– Do you need off street parking? Parking around campus is limited!

Keepin’ Clean – Is the washing machine an antique?

– How will you dry your clothes? Dryer = expensive – If there’s mould or slime in the bathroom, run away now.

– Is the toilet in the bathroom? This can be a problem in the mornings when everyone’s getting ready.

– How big is the hot water cylinder? Will you all get decent showers?

Request a hot water cylinder wrap!

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SUBURB REVIEW Inner campus

City Rise

South D

This is the area closest to Uni, between George St and Anzac Ave in one direction, and Frederick to Howe St on the other.

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Pros:

Pros:

– Obviously, you’re super-close to campus – A+ for convenience.

– As so many students live here, it’s a bit of a social hub.

– Town is fairly close

– In the lower City Rise area, you’re pretty close to uni, from 12 minutes walk upwards, depending how far up the hill you’re living.

– There are some very reasonably priced and good quality flats in this area.

Cons:

Cons:

– Many students in this area are grubby and noisy. You may face walking to school through broken glass and chunky mixed veg with 2 min noodles.

– There isn’t much common space, and there’s little or no greenery.

– This is the most expensive area a student can live in – a lot of flats here are overpriced for how good they are.

– Because you don’t have to walk far each day, you don’t get much exercise.

– Getting home involves a vertical hill climb.

– You’re a little further from major amenities.

– Dunedin’s weather can mean an icy skid to school on winter mornings.

The Valley and beyond

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In this category, we’ve included North East Valley, Woodhaugh, Pine Hill and Ravensbourne together because they have similar pros and cons.

Pros: – It’s cheap!

– “Real people” live around here as well as students. It has a homey vibe. Good for pet owners.

– North East Valley has a great bus service and lots of other amenities. Buses run every 15 minutes on weekdays during work hours.

– Some nice views and greenery.

– You will be known as a Valley girl/guy.

This area runs from Pitt to Stuart St one way, and from Arthur St/Royal Terrace to George St the other way.

Octagon to Oval (aka Centre City)

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This area includes Princess St, and the streets which run off it up the hill, including High St, Stafford St and Carroll St.

Pros: – It’s cheap!

– Apartments can be pretty sweet – Many of the flats are old villas, but they get sun.

– If you don’t live too far up the hill, you can walk almost the whole way to school under the cover of shop verandas – a plus on rainy Dunedin days.

– Buses run along princes street to uni (and back) every 30 minutes weekdays

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Down past the oval, out towards the beaches is a mystical place called South Dunedin (or just South D, to those in the know). It’s home to St Clair and St Kilda beaches, Mitre 10 Mega, Pak n Save, the big Warehouse and Carisbrook stadium.

Pros: – It’s super cheap – some real bargains out there!

– Walk to the beach on the weekend (in summer, at least).

– It’s away from the ‘Student Ghetto’ so it’s generally cleaner, tidier, and quieter.

– There are lots of buses to bring you in to uni every day – You can do your groceries at Pak n Save and, well, save!

Cons: – Walking isn’t so much an option so you’ll need to car pool, bike or learn to love buses.

– Your taxi home at 4am on Saturday morning will be more expensive.

– It’s still South D.

Cons: – It’s a little further if you want to walk – from 20 minutes upwards.

– It’s harder to feel safe walking at night in this area.

– Apartments can be fairly expensive.

Cons: – A bit of a walk to Uni – 15 -25 minutes (burn off that fresher 5!)

– Much of the houses in these areas are cold old-style Dunedin villas which tend to repel the sun. Expect to pay a bit more for heating.

Copyright Mr. Thinktank

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RENT PRICES General rule: The further from campus, the lower the rent. So you’ll get a much nicer flat for your money if you’re willing to walk a bit further to uni or brave the Dunedin buses.

Inner Campus

Rest of North Dunedin

$700

$700 5+ BR

Total Weekly Rent for Flat

$600 $500

$600 $500

4 BR 3 BR

$400 $300

5+ BR

$400 4 BR

$300

3 BR

$200

$200

$100

$100

2007

2008

2009

2010

2007

2008

2009

These graphs are based on rent averages from the Department of Building and Housing and demonstrate the price trends.

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2010

GETTING LEGAL

We Found the Perfect Flat…

Now What?

Once you’ve decided on the flat you want, there are a few things you’ll need to sort out.

Leases The legal contract between you and your landlord is called your Tenancy Agreement or Lease. These are very important and it’s vital you know what you’re signing.

Fixed versus Periodic Leases – Periodic leases have no end date. You can leave it by giving three weeks notice. Periodic leases are pretty rare for flats around the uni area.

– Fixed term leases have a specified end date (eg 31st December), so you’re stuck with the flat until then.

Worst case scenario: soon after moving in, you realise that your flatmate is a loser. He/she won’t move out, so you do. But you can’t find someone to take your place in your old flat, so you end up paying rent there and at your new flat too.

In North Dunedin, most leases are fixed term, and run from January 1st to December 31st. You have to keep paying until the end of the lease, even if you’re not living in the flat, unless you can find someone to take your place.

Joint versus Individual Leases You and your flatmates will either have a separate lease each (individual leases), or one lease with everyone’s names on it (a joint lease).

Unless you have individual leases, the law treats you all as one tenant, or ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means that you can be held responsible for what your flatmates do.

Worst case scenario: You and five mates find an amazing flat. You’re the only one available to sign the lease, so you go ahead and do it. But over the next few weeks the others change their minds about the flat, and one decides to not come back to Dunedin. As the only person with their name on the lease, you have to pay for the whole thing – $650 per week – until you find other people willing to share the flat with you.

OR: You live in an amazing flat with 4 friends. One night, you and 3 of your flatties are out partying while one stays home to study. He falls asleep on the couch while making a midnight snack of instant noodles.

The pot of noodles boils dry and sets the kitchen on fire. Sleeping flattie wakes up and gets the hell out of there. Within minutes the whole house and the one next-door are up in flames. The flatmate responsible catches the next plane to Australia and is never heard from again. YOU and the other remaining flatmates get a $1,000,000 bill from your landlord’s insurance company. Yes, YOU have to pay even though you weren’t even there. And yes, this has happened before.

Doesn’t sound fair, does it? ASK your landlord if you can be on individual leases.

Even go along equipped with pre-printed and signed tenancy agreements printed off the Department of Building and Housing website (dbh.govt.nz/pub-new-tenancy).

If you do sign a joint lease, make sure you have personal liability insurance – it will cover your ass in some of the situations described above.

Bond The landlord can legally ask for a bond that’s equivalent to up to four weeks rent.

Advance rent The landlord can ask you for up to two weeks rent in advance.

Condition of flat The landlord should make sure the flat is in a reasonably clean and tidy state when you move in. If it’s not, talk to the landlord at the time. Don’t assume you can just leave the flat as you found it when it’s time to move out – you may lose your bond. The same is true for you, you have the leave the flat reasonably clean and tidy, not commercially cleaned!

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Property inspection report This is a report that you and your landlord conduct before you move in. It is where any existing damage to the flat is noted down so that you don’t get accused of doing it when you move out and lose your bond. It’s really important that you do this! If your landlord forgets, remind them, or you could end up out of pocket.

Previous tenants’ stuff The landlord is responsible for making sure that the old tenants’ stuff isn’t cluttering the flat when you move in. However, they can’t just throw out the old tenants’ stuff. They have to put it in storage.

Recent Changes The Act was recently updated, here are a few important things to know: – If a landlord is going to be absent from New Zealand for more than 21 consecutive days, they must appoint a New Zealand based agent, notify their tenants of the agents’ details and the Bond Centre (if a bond is held).

– New rules have been added for landlords dealing with abandoned goods.

A number of unlawful acts have been added including: – Failure of the tenant to quit the premises at the end of the tenancy without reasonable excuse.

– The tenant using the premises for unlawful purposes.

– Exceeding the maximum number of people who may reside at the property.

– Landlord’s failure to comply with their obligations regarding cleanliness, maintenance, relevant building, health and safety regulations.

– Interference with the supply of services, for example, electricity.

BOND What’s a bond?

When can the landlord keep your bond?

It’s a safeguard in the form of money you give to your landlord. If you get behind on rent or damage your flat, your bond will go towards cost recovery. If you don’t damage the flat and leave it reasonably clean and tidy, you’ll get your bond back when you move out. The landlord might ask each flatmate for an individual bond, or might get all the flatmates to pay one bond together.

The landlord has to give the OK before the Department of Building and Housing will give your bond back to you. The landlord can try to claim some or all of the bond if you break or take stuff from the flat, leave it dirty or have rent owing. However, a landlord can’t claim your bond to meet the costs of normal wear and tear to the flat.

How much do you have to pay?

The most you can be charged for bond is the equivalent of four weeks rent.

What happens to your bond?

When you pay it to your landlord, they give you a receipt, and lodge your bond with the Department of Building and Housing within 23 working days. The Department sends you a letter when they receive your bond. You can ring them on 0800 737 666 to check your bond has been lodged, or ask questions. If your landlord doesn’t do this, they are in trouble and you can ask for compensation.

How do you get your bond back?

When your tenancy ends, you or your landlord can apply to the Department of Building and Housing to get your bond refunded to you. If you and your flatmates have paid into one joint bond together, you may need everyone’s signatures to get it back. It can be tough to get everyone’s signatures when you leave Dunedin in November, but it’s never a good idea to fill in a blank bond. Come and see us at OUSA Student Support and we will work something out for you.

How can you dispute this?

You might agree that the landlord is entitled to some or all of your bond – if so, you and the landlord sign a form together. If the landlord won’t agree to release your bond and you think that’s unfair, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to have it sorted out. See OUSA Student Support for help with this.

Buying out someone else’s bond If someone is moving out of a flat and you’re taking their place, it’s OK to buy out their bond – so long as you, the old tenant and the landlord fill in a Change of Tenant form and send it to the Department of Building and Housing. If you don’t send in this form, the Department of Building and Housing has no way of knowing that the bond lodged by someone else now belongs to you, so they won’t refund it to you.

I need to know more!!

For more about bonds, visit www.tenancy.govt.nz or ring the Department of Building and Housing on 0800 836 262.

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RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES A brief translation of tenancy law The landlord cannot discriminate (as defined by the Human Rights Act) against prospective tenants.

This means it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from, what you believe or who you shag, you should be treated equally and with respect.

TENANTS are responsible for: – Paying your bond and rent on time – Paying for your utilities like electricity, phone, gas, etc if you use them – Telling the landlord if there’s something wrong with the flat – whether it was your doing or not – Fixing (or paying for) any damage you do to the flat beyond normal wear and tear – Fixing (or paying for) any damage your visitors do – Keeping the place reasonably clean and tidy – Not letting anyone live in the flat who isn’t on the lease – Making sure nothing illegal is going down at the flat

The LANDLORD is responsible for: – Taking care of the paperwork – Giving you a receipt for your bond – Sending your bond to the Department of Building and Housing within 23 working days – Making sure the flat and grounds are reasonably clean and tidy when you move in – Keeping the flat maintained to a reasonable state of repair – this means no leaks, holes, health hazards, etc – Fixing things in a timely manner if needed – Paying you back if you have to fix something urgently (but only if you’ve tried to contact them first and it wasn’t something you broke by being a dick) – Paying the rates and other property costs – Trying their best to stop any of their other tenants from disturbing your peace

once the heatpump arrives in April. If an increase isn’t written into your agreement, your rent has to stay the same the whole time. If the landlord doesn’t fulfill the agreement, for instance, if your agreement says that a heat pump will be installed by March and it isn’t, pop into Student Support and we’ll help you out.

If you’re on a periodic lease, your landlord can put the rent up if they give you 60 days notice. BUT, they can’t do this in the first 6 months of your tenancy, and they can’t do it again for 6 months after putting up the rent.

Getting things Fixed If something needs fixing at the flat, let the landlord know. It’s a good idea to put things in writing as well.

If the landlord doesn’t do anything you can give them a ‘10 working days letter’ which is official notice that they need to meet their responsibilities otherwise you’ll take the matter further. You can get a template for the letter from dbh.govt.nz/pub-sorting-out-problems

Confused?

If you have questions about tenancy matters, you can call the Department of Building and Housing’s helpline: 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262). You can also contact the OUSA Student Support Centre for help or to ask questions. Email help@ousa.org.nz, phone 479 5448 or pop into 5 Ethel Benjamin Pl.

Your landlord must give notice before coming into your flat unless it’s an emergency. They have to give you: – 24 hours’ notice before coming to fix something (or sending someone else to fix something, like a plumber or exorcist) – 48 hours’ notice before coming to do a flat inspection.

Rent Increases If you’re on a fixed-term lease the landlord can’t put the rent up unless they write it into your tenancy agreement. They might write something like “heatpump to be installed in April, from which point rent will increase by $5 per week” and if you sign the agreement, then you’re agreeing to pay more rent OUSA Flatting Mag –

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FLATMATES The good, the bad and the smelly Choose Carefully This sounds obvious, but when you’re about to go flatting for the first time it’s easy to focus only on the good points of your future flatmates. Look ahead: will it bother you if your flatmates come home drunk during exams?

Can they live with your loud music and fussy eating? Can you cope with seeing someone else’s curly pubes in the bottom of the bath tub? Differences aren’t a bad thing, so long as you discuss in advance how you’ll make them work in a flatting situation.

Friendship Killers All the flatmates want to save power but one.

You’re wearing a 10 centimeter thick cardie that weighs more than your bag full of tinned tomatoes on shopping day. Flatmate number 2 totters around in a sleeping bag with their feet zipped out. Flatmate number 3, on the other hand, has created a tropical paradise in their bedroom using their fan heater because they like to wear shorts all year round.

It’s a matter of priorities. Agree on how much you all think is reasonable to spend on power? If you can’t agree, are some flatties willing to pay more than others? Read the section about power in this mag for energysaving tips.

Your flatmates are stoners. The flat stinks, and you’re afraid that someone will leave the element on and burn the place down.

Can you make rules around cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs? Are they OK in individual bedrooms, outside the flat or not at all?

Check whether your insurance covers you for personal liability – if your flatmate burns the flat down, you’ll be covered. (NB: It’s always better not to burn the flat down if you can avoid it) One flatmate is always behind in paying in their share of the bills. You and your other flatmates have to keep paying their share or the power/phone will get cut off. You want to talk about it with them, but they keep

avoiding you.

Before you go flatting, make sure you’re not committing yourself to a lifestyle you can’t afford, and think about your future flatmates’ spending habits. If you’re the account holder for the phone or power, you’ll be held responsible for paying the whole bill if your flatmate can’t or won’t contribute. To share the risk, get different flatmates to each put their names on different accounts. In the event of a flat meltdown, one person won’t be stuck with all the debts.

Your flatmates are just plain dirty. Their bedrooms reek, the dishes haven’t been done for a fortnight and there is mouse poo in your cornflakes.

Being filthy isn’t a problem in itself – it’s a problem when you’re living with tidy people. If you and your flatties have different tolerance levels for mess, work out how to deal with it in advance. (Incidentally, if you are laying a mousetrap, they actually prefer peanut butter to cheese. One alternative to setting traps could be to introduce the feral cat population from the flat down the road).

Some of your flatmates like quiet, while others like music that rattles the windows… and then there’s noisy sex, thin walls and early morning stompers. If you protest, they argue that it’s their flat too, and they’ve got a right to make themselves feel at home.

Some flats get round this problem by having set quiet times during the day or week, and devoting the rest of the week to noise.

Your flatmate’s boyfriend has pretty much moved in. He eats the flat bread, has 25 minute showers and makes a lot of noise during… err… rugby games.

Talk about BF/GF visitation rights at the very beginning. Will they contribute to bills and food? How much? How many sleepovers per week is too many?

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Do – Fill in a Flatting Agreement (see centerfold) and talk about all these things in advance.

It’s a million times easier to have these conversations while it’s still hypothetical and emotions aren’t involved yet.

– See Student Support for tips on having that difficult conversation. We can help you find a nice way to tell someone that they stink or that their boyfriend is a dick.

Don’t – Communicate via post-its. Seriously.

– Wait until you’re homicidal to talk to your flatmate about what’s bothering you.

The beginning of the end Most problems can be handled with a bit of diplomacy, negotiation and open communication. Here are the most ineffective yet common ways of dealing with flat problems.

Flat Fallouts Sometimes flat problems can’t be resolved, and someone has to move out. That’s often where it gets tricky. If you’re jointly and severally liable, the lease sees you and your flatmates as one tenant, so you all share responsibility for the flat and you’ve all got an equal right to live there. You’ve got to decide who goes, who stays and who pays.

If you decide to move out, the landlord has the right to ask you and/or your flatmates to pay for your room until it’s filled by someone else. Getting someone to take your place on the lease is called “assigning”. The landlord and your flatmates must agree to the new person being signed onto the lease (and you being taken off it). This means you will need to find a replacement that is agreeable to all parties rather than picking the first person that shows interest in the place.

Worried about someone?

The Bottler – Silently seething about the problem, personalizing everything you say and then unexpectedly you trip their wire and it’s tears and yelling in the hallway.

Playing nasty – Getting some of your flatmates onside, so you’ve got someone to bitch about the others with.

Passive aggressive – Ignoring the problem, avoiding the person that’s bothering you, slamming doors, being snarky.

Being a munter – Playing practical jokes, like putting their cellphone into lost property and glad wrap on the toilet seat. If you’re arguing with a munter, be sure to give your toothbrush a sniff test before use.

None of these ‘resolution’ methods actually let the person who’s bothering you know what’s wrong, or what they can do about it.

Most people can come up with creative solutions, so long as there’s open communication and goodwill. Approach issues as things that

need to be worked on together, not everyone else’s problem.

Conflict Coaching and Mediation OUSA Student Support has people trained in conflict management. That is, we specialise in helping people sort their sh#t out.

Conflict coaching is where someone can help you figure out the best way to handle a relationship or situation that’s turning pear shaped. Mediation is like a flat meeting with superpowers. A mediator sits in to make sure things don’t turn into a bitch fest or fist fight.

Don’t be alarmed: these things aren’t all about sharing your inner pain and learning to love again. They’re about identifying problems and working out solutions in a civilized and constructive way. Talk to the OUSA Student Support Centre (479 5448 or help@ousa.org.nz).

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Studying and flatting can be really stressful times – it’s important to look after yourself.

It’s also important to look out for your friends. Things like depression and eating disorders are common in our age group. If you’re worried about someone, ask some gentle questions about how they’re doing.

Maybe they’ve just got a big assignment and will be right-as-rain next week. If not, talk to someone at Student Health or OUSA Student Support. We can help you help them.

Really Bad Stuff The OUSA Student Support Centre sees a small number of people whose flatting situations have got out of control. Violence, threats, abuse or vandalism may be occurring. If you’re in a dangerous situation, get out. Then contact the police, the University Proctor, Women’s Refuge and/or the OUSA Student Support Centre.

THE OUSA STUDENT SUPPORT C This agreement is a guide for you and your flatmates as you plan how your flat will run. Go through it at your first flat meeting – this should be well before you move in or even sign a lease. Communication – before you move in and while you’re flatting – is the key to success.

Meals: Are you going to cook together? Every night or just on weekdays? What are your food and cooking preferences? Does anyone have any special dietary needs or religious requirements guiding what they can or can’t eat?

Does anyone need cooking lessons, or help with cooking?

We agree to eat together on: Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun We’ll make our own arrangements on: Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun

Shopping: Flat shopping will cover: Dinner supplies Lunch supplies Breakfast supplies Snack foods Flat needs (e.g. toilet paper, oven cleaner) Other: How will we pay for the shopping?

We’ll put $ into the flat account each week will pay for the shopping, then split the bill.

Who will do the shopping?

We’ll take turns will do the shopping every week We’ll do it together

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How will we get the shopping home?

We’ll split the cost of the taxi money We’ll give some petrol money to use his/her car We’ll walk or find a free way to get the shopping home Big eaters will pay $ more per week than others.

Vegetarians and vegans will

Cleaning: Often flatmates rotate the chores each week, but sometimes each flatmate decides to take on one job for the whole year. One way to keep things fair is to make a chores wheel (see page 18).

Generally, the main chores are: – Kitchen: bench top, oven and stovetop, microwave, fridge and floor.

– Bathroom: surfaces, basin, toilet, bath, shower, floor.

– Common areas: tidy and vacuum lounge, dining area, stairs and hall.

– Dishes: will the cook do their own dishes or do you need a separate roster?

– Odd jobs: putting out the rubbish and recycling, emptying scraps bucket, washing hand towels and bath mats.

– Shopping: writing the list, doing the shopping, getting it home and putting it away.

– Any other jobs: at your flat, it might be the tenants’ responsibility to take care of the lawn and garden or you might have firewood to bring in.

CENTRE FLATTING AGREEMENT Tidiness:

Electricity:

How tidy do you agree to keep the common areas of the house? (If you have any pet hates, now is a good time to talk about them.)

Do you want to put any limits on: How much each flatmate can use heaters?

How much each flatmate can use the clothes dryer?

Shower lengths?

Visitors: We agree on the following about visitors / girlfriends / boyfriends / randoms: Visitors can/can’t stay for meals.

If they can stay, they do/don’t have to pay a share of the meal costs.

Visitors can/can’t stay overnight.

If they can stay, are there any conditions? Is there a maximum number of nights they can stay, or any nights of the week that don’t suit?

Are they allowed to use the shower and heaters, or help themselves to the fridge?

How will you deal with noise/mess/problems created by visitors?

Phone, Sky and internet: Do you want: Call waiting or call minder?

Individual PINS so you can tell who’s made toll calls?

Will you get Sky? Who will pay? Will flatmates who don’t pay be allowed to watch?

Will you get internet access?

Who will pay, and what kind of plan will you get?

Noise: Do you want to make rules around: Visitors?

Parties?

Playing music or having the TV on?

Incoming phone calls at night?

Having quiet at certain times of the day/ week?

Bills: Our flat agrees that: Every bill has a different person responsible for organising payment.

The person responsible for a bill divides the total amongst the flatmates, collects the money then pays the bill (making arrangements for times like semester breaks when people are away).

Each flatmate pays their share as soon as they can. or We will pay $ into the flat account each week to cover bills.

Who will set up the flat account, who will have access to it, who will set up and stop automatic payments, and who will close the account at the end of the year?

Disputes: As you’ll know from reading Flatting Mag from cover to cover, communication is the best approach to any problem. If you can’t sort it out, try the OUSA Student Support Centre for information, mediation, advice and support.

Contact us on 479 5448 or help@ousa.org.nz.

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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BUDGET Before you sign that lease, work out what you can afford using our weekly budget as a guide. You can also do this on our website using our budget calculator which adds stuff up for you! Just visit www. ousa.org.nz, click “support” and then “flatting”.

Weekly Income

Essential Weekly Expenses

Other Weekly Expenses

Student allowance $ If you’re under 24, single and living away from home, the most you can get on the student allowance is approximately $167 per week (plus an accommodation supplement, max $38). This amount changes from year to year.

Rent $ Think carefully – this will be your biggest weekly cost. How much you spend on rent determines how much you’ve got left over for everything else that’s important in your life; food, going home in the holidays, going out, bus fares, coffee, whatever.

Landline Rental $

Contents Insurance $ Check out the insurance section (page 20) to find out what you’ll need and where to get it.

Personal stuff $ E.g. shampoo, tampons, contact lenses, deodorant, etc.

Car Insurance $

Clothes and Shoes $

Groceries (breakfasts, dinners and household stuff) $ Me and my flatmates like to eat: A Everything we can get our hands on $45-55 (each per week) B Moderately $35-45 (each per week) C Not much – we pride ourselves on being emaciated and would rather buy into the body image mirage than buy food. $25-35 (each per week)

Transport $ Do you run a car? Will you use the bus?

Student loan $ If you’re borrowing living costs on your loan, the most you can get if you’re single and under 24 is approximately $169 per week.

Work $ If you get a student allowance, you can earn up to approximately $203 per week before your allowance is reduced. For every $1 you earn over that limit, you get $1 deducted from your student allowance. Find out more from www.studylink.govt.nz.

Other $ There are plenty of other ways to add to your weekly income, such as help from your parents, share dividends, prostituting your body to drug companies for trials…

Total A $

Lunches $ $15 If you’d rather buy your kai than bring a lunchbox, the cheapest option is a $3 lunch from Clubs & Socs. If you’d like something more upmarket, budget more here.

Toll calls $ Cell phone $ Internet $

Entertainment $ E.g. going out on the town, movies, going out for dinner, etc.

Saving for Occasional Expenses $ Every now and then, you’ll have to go to the doctor, dentist, or buy cold and flu tablets.

You might need to buy a bunch of stationary, a new textbook or do something during the holidays. We recommend putting $5-10 a week aside for such things so it’s not so stressful at the time.

Other $

Electricity $ Your share will depend on how many people you flat with and how energy conscious ya’ll are. A very rough guide is $10-18 per week.

And remember, you don’t just use more electricity in winter – it actually costs more per unit

Total B $ OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Total C $

Staying out of High Interest Debt One of the most important parts of surviving your time as a student is to stay out of pointless debt. With the cost of studying going up every year, and part-time jobs becoming harder and harder to find in Dunedin, it can be tempting to grab some sort of high interest debt, like credit cards or store cards. But before you start to buy flat screen TVs and laptops thinking “I’ll just pay for it later”, consider the following.

Of course, there’s a world of things you’ll want over the year that aren’t included in this budget: CDs, magazines, birthday presents, shoe polish, costumes. The moral of the story is: think before you sign a lease. By being prepared to live 5 minutes further from campus, you could save $20 a week.

What fee’s could I be charged?

Over Limit fees If you exceed your credit limit by even 1 cent you could be stung with fees ranging between $10-$40. As most cards allow you to go over the limit, this can really catch you out.

Late payment fees

Total Income (A): $

Total Expensives (B + C): $

Ever thrown away a bill when it comes in the mail because you can’t bear to look at it? Don’t have any money to pay the credit card this month? You’re likely to then get charged a late payment fee of around $20 for not making the minimum payment. Be careful as your late payment fee may take your balance over the limit, causing you to also pay an over the limit fee that month.

Balance Transfer fees Ever been tempted by the attractive offer to transfer your credit card to another company to get a rock bottom interest rate? You may find that that comes with another fee. Be sure to read the fine print.

Balance (Income - Expenses): $

Wondering how on earth you’re going to survive?

Come and chat to one of our friendly, non-judgmental awesome budget advisors at OUSA Student Support. They’re trained in budgeting and, unlike other budget advisors around the place, they understand the specific needs of students. They can also help you figure out whether you’re getting all the assistance you’re entitled to and help you out if you’re in hardship. Email us at budgetadvice@ousa.org.nz

Inactivity fees Trying to get rid of your card debt by not using it? Watch out for Inactivity charges. Some companies may actually charge you for not using the card.

How does the interest free period work?

If your credit card has an ‘up to 55 days interest free’ period and your statement starts on the first of every month, then your bill will be due on the 25th of the next month. Say you make a purchase on the 1st of the month, you will have 55 days (until the 25th of the next month) of zero interest. If you were to purchase something on the 20th, you will have 35 days of zero interest, and 25th of the month will give you 25 days.

It’s important to avoid this type of debt as it can be extremely hard to get out of once you’re in it. If you have to have a card, make sure you read the fine print and understand how everything works.

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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HOW TO MAKE A CHORES WHEEL There’s no need to fight over whose turn it is to do the vacuuming – just make a chores wheel!

01

Make two circles, one larger than the other. You could trace around a small plate for one, and around a jam jar for the other.

03

02

04

05

In each segment of the smaller circle, write a chore that needs to be done each week, e.g. vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, taking out the rubbish and so on.

Using a pen and ruler, divide each circle into the number of flatmates in your flat.

On the larger circle, around the outside of the smaller circle, write the names of each flatmate.

06

Rotate the wheel on a set day each week and viola! Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do and everyone gets a turn at everything.

Pin the small circle in the middle of the larger circle so that it can rotate.

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Ki OUSA Flatting Mag –

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SETTING UP SHOP Time to move in! But wait, the lights won’t turn on and the phone won’t work…

You have the power of choice – shop around to find the best deals for your amenities, and think carefully about what you can afford. Remember if your name is on the bill, it is your responsibility; not your flat mate who keeps making 0900 psychic calls to see what to cook for dinner, your other flat mate who opens the windows when the heater gets too hot, or flattie number three who downloads Star Trek and porn all day.

Phone

Internet

Power

Homelines are expensive. Some students choose to just use their cellphones and don’t bother getting a landline. If you do want one, think about: – Which company you choose (shop around online first).

– Connection fees. How much will they charge you to get set up?

– Disconnection fees – how much will they charge if you move out or change your mind?

– Toll costs. Do you want to put on a toll bar or have PINs so that you know who makes toll calls?

– Package deals, e.g. if you want Internet as well.

You get free Internet at uni on the campus computers, plus access to free wireless if you take your laptop to campus. Do you need Internet at home too? If you do, think about: – The same sort of stuff as phone lines.

– Be wary of installation costs. Some places charge you hundreds while others do it for free!

– Look out for specials.

– Ask what happens if you go over your data allowance. Will they cut you off or just keep charging you more and more until you get a $6000 bill?

– Lots of companies have 12 or 24 month contracts, but a lot of students move out just after exams. Be careful about early disconnection fees. Orcon is one provider that doesn’t make you sign up for a fixed term.

– WIC has free WIFI in certain places in Dunedin. It’s slow and they block lots of things, but it comes at the right price.

– If you find a place close to a University hall/ college, you may be able to pick up the University WIFI. It’s free as well.

– The Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill is being enforced at the time of reading, so, um, no pirating please!

If you do, you might lose your Internet.

There are so many options. The best bet is to just ring the main providers in our area and ask them what plan would be best for your flat and how much it will cost. Go to consumer.org.nz/powerswitch to compare companies and to look at other ideas and options. There are special plans that can save you money if you: – Are low electricity users – Use most of your electricity at night – Are willing to pre-pay

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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INSURANCE Want to avoid being bankrupt at 19? Insurance is important when you’re flatting, especially a personal liability cover. That’s the kind that will come in handy if your dodgy flatmate burns the house down then skips town – without personal liability insurance, you might have to pay the bill on your own. Got a spare $500,000 lying around? No? Then read on…

Ring around to find out what the best deal will be for you, as it depends a lot on your individual needs. Most insurance companies have a default starting coverage of $20,000 worth of contents. Chances are, you don’t own twenty grand worth of stuff, so be sure to ask whether they have a lower package available. Some do $10,000 if you ask, which is more realistic and will cost you less in premiums.

When getting quotes, they’ll need to know: – How much all your stuff is worth (approx) – Details about your flat like: – Where it is – Who you’ll be living with – What it’s made of (seriously, they ask! Wood, brick, concrete…)

– Security – is there an alarm? Locks on bedroom doors?

Personal Annual Liability Premium Excess AMI 1 Million $240 $200 State 1 Million $304 $250 Tower 1 Million $183 $200 AA 1 Million $175 $200 BNZ 1 Million $321 $250 Westpac 2 Million $270 $250 National Bank 1 Million $390 $250

Here are some key questions to ask them: – I own $XXXX worth of stuff. Do you have a package that would suit me?

– How much personal liability is included?

– Am I covered if one of my flatmates steals my stuff? (Often the answer is NO).

– How much are the premiums and excess? Is there extra excess for theft or burglary? (Sometimes this is hundreds more).

– Is my stuff covered when it’s not at the flat? Like when I take my laptop to uni or home for the holidays? (Sometimes it’s not!)

– What kind of replacement policy do they have? If the worst happens, will you get stuck with second hand stuff or will you get to buy new things?

– Your bicycle or your glasses might be covered, ask if it is, it might not cost more.

This table is a very rough guide showing prices and conditions of a few key providers. Your quotes will depend on your circumstances and insurance companies may have changed their policies since the time of printing. These amounts were for a student in a 4 person flat in North Dunedin with $10,000 worth of stuff.

Burglary & What will Theft Excess they pay? $350 Market Value only No extra Market Value only No extra Market Value for most things No extra ‘New for Old’ on everything No extra Varies No extra Market Value only No extra Market Value only

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Our favourite quote was from AA Insurance (same as last year) because their premiums are pretty awesome, they don’t charge extra if you get robbed and they’ll hook you up with new stuff for pretty much everything. They also cover some things that are with you when you’re not at the flat.

How to stop your Great Aunty Mildew from moving in Staying warm and dry in your Dunedin flat Mould and mildew are health hazards. Some mould spores are toxic and inhaling them can have a nasty impact on your health. You could get sick more often, have breathing difficulties, an allergic reaction, wounds that won’t heal… not very nice!

It’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide the flat in a clean and tidy condition and keep it maintained to a “reasonable state of repair”. It’s the tenants’ responsibility to take “reasonable steps” to keep the flat mould-free. Here are a few tips:

Do: – Ventilate the flat by opening the windows, particularly when you’re having a shower or cooking. Ask your landlord to put catches on the windows so you can leave them open without getting your stuff stolen.

– Ventilate your bedroom by leaving the door open from time to time.

– Open your curtains during the day and let the sun in.

– Wipe condensation off the windows every morning.

– If your flat has a clothes dryer, ask the landlord to install a vent to take the moisture outside.

– Air your mattress and turn it over from time to time.

– If you’ve got clothes, books or other stuff stored, periodically check that they’re not going mouldy.

– If you’re lucky enough to have a heat pump, check whether it has an anti-mould setting

DCC Minimum Standards The Dunedin City Council sets housing standards to protect tenants against dangerous and unsanitary conditions.

– The flat should be as free as possible from dampness, with adequate ventilation.

– There should be no cracks, holes or depressions in the walls or floors.

– The supply of electricity should be safe.

– The flat should be weatherproof (ie no leaks).

– There should be a way of getting out if there’s a fire – The kitchen should have adequate facilities to store and cook food hygienically.

Flat not meeting these standards? Call the DCC on (03) 477 4000.

Don’t: – Live in filth – mould loves company. If you wipe down windows and clean your bathroom at least once a week the mould is less likely to run rampant.

– Use gas heaters – they give off lots of moisture.

– Dry your clothes on a rack inside.

– Put your mattress directly on the floor – use a bed base otherwise you will rot the carpet.

– Ignore mould if it forms — it will not go away on its own and it is bad for your health.

OUSA Flatting Mag –

Copyright Steve Weaver

The warmer your flat, the drier it will be. In fact, keeping your home 5°-7° warmer than outside is recommended – but this can be hard for cash-strapped students.

If you’ve done your best to keep the place dry and it’s just not working, it might be because your flat has structural problems. It’s your landlord’s job to fix these problems, and make sure that the flat complies with the Dunedin City Council’s (DCC) minimum standards.

Come and see us at OUSA Student Support for help with getting stuff like this fixed.

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I’VE GOT THE POWER (BILL) Your flat should have power when you move in, but it’s not free. Call your preferred power company to set up an account.

Powershop (powershop.co.nz) is easy to manage – you can keep your meter current via the web yourself. It’s also easy to use with a simple pricing structure that even BA students can understand.

Remember you hold the power, so you can change electricity providers anytime if your current provider is ripping you off. Just chat with the new provider and they will take care of everything for you.

How much do you expect to spend on electricity in your flat, and how can you make savings? Visit powerswitch.org.nz to estimate what your flat’s power usage might be and evaluate the pros and cons of various appliances. Power is more expensive in winter (it costs more per unit in winter and you use more of it). Winter power bills can sneak up and take you by surprise. And it’s never a good surprise. Be prepared!

How to Save Power – Replace normal light bulbs with energy-saving ones.

– Block off draughty cracks and unused fireplaces. They can suck out 15-25% percent of the heat in your flat.

– Try to convince your landlord to get you full-length, thermal curtains.

They’re the only kind that effectively stop the 25-35% heat loss that occurs through glass. Or try to buy some at your local op shop.

– Showers are more economical than baths, but a crappy showerhead will cost you more than you need to spend. If it takes less than a minute for your shower to fill a 10 litre bucket, ask your landlord for a new showerhead.

– Your hot water cylinder doesn’t need to be more than 60 degrees.

Don’t let it go below that, though, or nasty germs will grow in there.

– Each dripping hot water tap costs $80 per year. It’s your landlord’s responsibility to fix these.

– Switch off lights that aren’t being used, and don’t leave appliances on standby (this is a fire hazard as well as a waste of money).

– Only do full loads in the washing machine or dishwasher.

– Only boil the amount of water you need in your electric jug.

– Put lids on your pots – they’ll heat quicker, needing less electricity to do the job.

You can save hundreds of dollars a year just by turning stuff off at the wall!

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Food

There’s more to food than instant noodles

Planning Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping. That way, you don’t buy extra stuff that you don’t need. Write down everything that’s needed for the coming week’s meals and make your shopping list. Most importantly, stick to it when you’re at the supermarket.

It’s true what they say – don’t go to the supermarket when you’re hungry. It’s tempting to waste money on snack foods. Why not just avoid the chocolate isle all together?!

Shopping Buy in bulk – but carefully. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy in bulk, but sometimes the bulk bins are a cleverly disguised rip-off. Check value for money by dividing the weight of the product by its price (and don’t be embarrassed about taking your calculator to the supermarket – lots of students do it). Remember, you have to be able to store what you buy, and be able to use it before it goes off.

On Special! How can I lose?! Don’t be tempted to buy something just because it’s on special. It’s not a bargain if you don’t really want/need 10,000 plastic forks.

The New World supermarkets (Centre City and Gardens) are pretty nice to students. They have a courtesy shuttle van that will take you and your shopping home if you’ve spent over $50 Centre City NW shuttle times: Mon-Wed 6-9pm; Sun 10am-7pm Gardies NW shuttle times: Mon 4-8pm; Sun 12-8pm Buy your fruit and veg on campus from Hinton’s Fruit and Veg stall outside the OUSA main office, near Union Grill. Convenient, fresh and cheap!

Or go to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. They sell pretty much everything. If you can stumble out of bed and make it before midday, you can get a coffee there, some breakfast (mmmm, crepes and bacon butties), stop and watch the buskers, pick up your fruit and veg and head home feeling satisfied that you have real fresh produce (and are helping local business).

Lunches and Snacks For a cheap hot meal, try $3 lunches, served every day from 12- 2pm at OUSA Clubs ‘n’ Socs. They’re filling, vegetarian, healthy and absolutely delicious. If you need a cheap way to up your veggie intake AND save money, this is the easiest way to do it.

You can also save time and money by making extra food at dinner and having the leftovers for lunch. Of course, there’s no point making extra food if you can’t store it or won’t use it.

The amount you spend on snacks can quickly add up. If you’re tempted to snack during the day, prepare in advance by packing stuff like dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Or, if you’ve got the time (and ability), why not dabble in home baking? Your cookies will probably be much cheaper and will be free of additives and other scary things. Yum! OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Healthy Eating for Poor Students You don’t have to be sickly and malnourished just because you’re a student. You can eat healthily, you just have to be smart and learn a few tricks.

– Veggies are generally cheaper than meat so bulk out that stir-fry with a bit more broccoli and a little less beef.

– Fresh is best but frozen and tinned are good too! Budget tinned tomatoes are a students’ best friend, as are Pam’s mixed veggies.

– Learn to love mince (unless you’re a veggo). It’s cheap and versatile! It can be very fatty so you don’t need to use much oil (if any) when cooking mince.

– Drink water. It’s free! Juice is full of sugar anyway. After a while you won’t even miss it.

– Jazz up your 2 minute noodles with an egg! Or use those cheap noodles as a base for your healthy stir-fry.

– Too many takeaways will transfer the fat from your wallet to your arse.

– Coffee can be your best friend but your wallet’s worst nightmare.

You’ll pay $3-4 for a coffee on campus, which quickly adds up.

You can get a whole lunch for that price! Buying coffee for home is much cheaper. If a cup at brekky isn’t cutting the mustard, bring coffee from home in a thermos!

– Educate yourself! Find some good cookbooks or recipes online.

Think about your diet and whether you’re getting all the nutrients you need for those long study sessions. Your body is a temple and what-not.

– Eat at your friends house – And last but not least, watch out for alcohol. It kills off the brain cells you are trying to cultivate and it’s high in sugar.

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ECO FLATTING Feel some love for the Earth and make your flatting experience something Captain Planet would be proud of! It can be tough to be an eco-warrior when you’re a poor student as you can’t always afford to shop with your morals, but there are plenty of ways to save the planet and save money at the same time.

Food Shopping – Nobody likes plastic bags. Re-use them next time you go shopping, recycle them (there are special bins outside the supermarkets) or ditch them altogether in favour of reusable bags.

– Go for stuff that’s in recyclable packaging.

– Buy local produce at the Farmers’ Market next to the train station on Saturday mornings.

– Can’t get out of bed on a Saturday morning? There’s also Hinton’s fruit and veggie stall on campus outside the OUSA Main Office. They’re there on weekdays (weather permitting).

Grow Your Own Veggies – Learn the skills and tricks at Dunedin’s Community Gardens on Shetland St. Call them to find out more on 478 0311 – Growing your own mini herb garden is pretty easy. You can get kits and seeds from places like The Warehouse.

– Even if you don’t have much of a yard, you can grow stuff in buckets!

– Go to sustainability.govt.nz, and click on “Gardening” for info and tips.

Op Shops and Buying Second Hand Reduce costs by buying second hand stuff and reduce waste by donating your old gear to charity, selling it at the monthly OUSA Market day or Trademe. There are LOTS of second hand dealers and Op Shops in Dunedin. Check out the Dump shops where someone’s rubbish could be your treasure (ph 477 4000). They have all sorts of weird and wonderful bargains including perfect furniture for your flat and everything from candles shaped like Venus De Milo, to shoe racks, to bikes. Restore is the perfect op shop for cheap bargains (ph 03 477 3500).

Rubbish and Recycling: Where to Stick It There are many places to put your rubbish other than Castle St. Your rubbish and recycling need to be out for kerbside collection by 7am on your rubbish day. If you live close to campus, your rubbish day is Monday. If you’re not sure, call the Dunedin City Council and check (ph 03 477 4000).

– Your flat should be provided with a blue recycling bin (glass bottles and jars only) and a wheelie bin (plastics 1-7, Paper and tins). If yours has gone walkabout, ask your landlord (nicely) for another one. If you’re finding it all a bit complicated, call DCC for details. Remember, the council doesn’t care how many bottles you put out – if they are not in the blue bin, they won’t collect them.

– Rubbish has to be put into official DCC rubbish bags. They WON’T take your rubbish if you put it in any old bag. You can buy DCC bags from

OUSA cheap or from the supermarket for a slightly higher amount.

– The DCC can growl at you if you let rubbish spill onto the footpath.

– The DCC and the University put free-to-use rubbish skips around the student area three times a year: Orientation, the end of semester one, and the end of semester two. Use them!

– Recycling is FREE, rubbish bags aren’t. In short, recycling saves you money!

Make Your Own Household Cleaners and Save $$$$$ Invest in some reusable spray bottles, a crap load of budget white vinegar and a box of baking soda, and you’ll be able to clean almost anything Disinfectant: – Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to 1 litre of white vinegar.

– Decant into a spray bottle – Spray on to surfaces and wipe off with a clean cloth.

Vinegar Window Cleaner: – Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar to one litre of water.

– Using white vinegar when cleaning glass or windows stops awful streaks from grease build-up.

Remove Lime residue: – Electric jugs and irons build up lime deposits over time. When they get really bad, fill them with white vinegar and turn them on.

– Turn off before rinsing.

– Rinse it out, fill with fresh water and run it again.

Drain Cleaner: – Boil two cups of vinegar and pour it down the drain a small amount at a time.

– Allow the vinegar to remain in the drain for about 5—10 minutes before pouring a pot of very hot water down the drain.

– The alternative is to use ½ cup of baking soda poured into the drain followed by ½ cup of warm vinegar.

– Cover the drain and allow to stand for 5—10 minutes before running cold water down the drain.

General Cleaning Tips – Put an open box of baking soda in your fridge. This will help to get rid of any nasty odours.

– Rubbing baking soda directly onto clothing removes the smell of vomit.

– Lemon juice mixed with vinegar and/or baking powder can be used as a cleaning paste for dishes, surfaces and stains – Salt poured directly onto carpet can soak up red wine spills

OUSA Flatting Mag –

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CHECK YOURSELF FOR STDs (Serious Tenancy Delusions) So you think you’ve got what it takes to go flatting in Dunedin? The STD Quiz will help test your expertise.

01 – If you’re on a joint lease, your landlord can keep your bond for something your flatmate does.

True. Read the ‘Getting Legal’ section (page 9) for details.

02 – Your dodgy flattie racks up a huge bill then flees the country. The phone account is in your name. If you ring the phone company to explain that you didn’t make the calls and give them your dodgy flatmate’s contact details, you won’t have to pay.

False. If the bill is in your name, you are responsible for making your flatmate pay up.

03 – Your flat comes with a fridge and it spontaneously conks out while you live there. You have to pay for it to be fixed.

False. The landlord is responsible unless it broke because of something you did.

04 – You can still ask for repairs to be made to the flat even if you knew it was falling apart when you signed the lease.

True.

05 – If your landlord refuses to fix things that they’re legally required to, you can just stop paying rent.

False. You have to do things the legal way even if your landlord’s a dick.

06 – You can break a fixed term lease if the flatting relationship breaks down and you need to move out.

False. Unless you get permission from your landlord or ask the Tenancy Tribunal for an exception.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

07 – You might have to pay for the damage if one of your flatmates burns the house down.

True. So get personal liability coverage with your contents insurance.

08 – The most a landlord can ask for bond is 5 weeks rent.

False. It’s 4 weeks worth.

09 – All the good flats are taken months in advance so it’s important to sign up early.

False. This is just a scare tactic that Real Estate companies use.

Some of the best flats are still available in January – March and you can save heaps of money by waiting until then.

10 – You can get in trouble from your landlord if your flat smells like arse and you haven’t done the dishes since last month.

True. You have to keep the place ‘reasonably clean and tidy’.

Lucky the landlord has to give you 48 hours notice if they want to do an inspection so you’ll have time to clean up your act if you need to!

If you scored 1 to 4: Maybe you should go flatting with your parents.

At their place. Until you’re 40.

If you scored 5 to 7: Well that’s a pass… but maybe you should have another read of this magazine before you do anything else.

If you scored 8 to 10: You are wise indeed! You get an A for tenancy smarts – go you!

OUSA ousa.org.nz help@ousa.org.nz (03) 479 5332

Studylink studylink.govt.nz 0800 88 99 00

Dunedin City Council (DCC) dunedin.govt.nz (03) 477 4000 OUSA Flatting Mag –

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Student Health otago.ac.nz/studenthealth (03) 479 8212

Department of Building and Housing flatting101.co.nz Helpline: 0800 TENANCY (0800 83 62 62) Bonds: 0800 73 76 66

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IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH YOUR LECTURER, COURSE, LANDLORD, FLATMATES, FINANCES, LIFE IN GENERAL ...

TALK TO OUSA STUDENT SUPPORT We can help you sort things out.

We offer Advocacy, Queer Support, Foodbank & Budget Advice 5 Ethel Benjamin Place, Ph 479 5448, help@ousa.org.nz

Student Support Centre OUSA Flatting Mag –

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