The holiday season is a special time of year, and this Christmas is perhaps even more special as some families will be reunited for the first time in years.
We want to wish our tenants a safe and happy holiday season no matter whether you are staying at home, glamping, camping, setting sail or jetting overseas.
We look forward to working with you and being of service in the New Year.
We are hoping that our tenants will be enjoying home cooked meals over the summer period, so please check your oven and stove tops to ensure that everything is in working order before your best laid Christmas plans are thwarted due to an uncooperative appliance.
Whilst your property manager will want to repair any broken-down appliances, if you let them know too close to Christmas, they may not be able to get a tradesperson out in time to perform the repair and Uber Eats may have limited options on the big day!
Regarding maintenance, tenants must tell the landlord straight away if they are aware something needs to be repaired or maintained, no matter how it happened or who caused the damage. If a tenant does not notify the landlord as soon as possible the landlord may be able to
When you find a serious leek under your sink
claim some of the costs of repairing the damage from the tenant if it gets worse. Always let your property manager know as soon as you notice any damage, even if you or a guest caused the damage as this may be covered by the landlord’s insurance and your property manager can check this out for you.
Tell your property manager if you notice any leeks under your kitchen sink, as it could be serious. (lol!)
If you are planning some holiday projects and perhaps putting up a temporary swimming pool, additional fencing, a vegetable garden or thinking of pruning some trees or shrubs, check in with your property manager first. Your Harcourts property manager will be happy to assist you to understand what is or is not considered a minor change and make a request to the landlord.
Always get in touch if you are planning to get a caravan or tiny home as this will require consent from the landlord and maybe even require Council consent in the case of a tiny home or cabin. It is often not as straightforward as it first appears and may not be in the scope of what is considered a minor change.
Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted real estate group*, with over 2,300 sales consultants across 194 offices and a growing property management team. For more information visit www.harcourts.co.nz. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in the publication is accurate we recommend that before relying on this information you seek independent specialist advice. *Readers
Brand Survey 2013-2021.
These gorgeous, decadent truffles are a breeze to make and make the perfect after dinner treat or gourmet gift, perfect for Christmas.
• ¾ cup cream use coconut cream for dairy-free
• 250 g good quality dark eating chocolate around 70% cocoa, chopped
• 50 ml hazelnut liqueur e.g. Frangelico or another liqueur (optional)
• 20 whole hazelnuts optional
• desiccated coconut cocoa or fine coffee grinds to roll
1. Gently heat cream until it almost comes to a boil (but do not actually let it boil). Remove from the heat and use a spatula to mix in chopped chocolate until it is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and glossy (it will take a few minutes).
2. Mix in liqueur (if using). Pour into a bowl or small dish and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until firm.
3. Scoop teaspoons of mixture and roll into balls. If using hazelnuts, push one into the middle and roll back into shape.
4. Roll truffles in coconut, dark cocoa powder or finely ground coffee. Return to fridge until ready to serve.
5. Leave at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften slightly before serving.
These wee treats are a great addition to a dessert platter at a dinner party or Christmas dinner. They are rich enough that one is plenty, and because they use dark chocolate aren’t too sweet. The hazelnut in the middle provides a great little crunch that contrasts with the creamy truffle. Instead of Frangelico you could use rum, Kahlua or any other liqueur you fancy, or just leave it out if you prefer. To make these truffles dairy-free, check your dark chocolate is dairyfree (most that are over 70% are) and use thick coconut cream in place of the cream.
nadialim.com/hazelnut-chocolate-truffles
Our team will be emailing our owners with a breakdown of payments expected across the Christmas and New Year period, to help you plan for the season.
But wait a snowy second... Santa and his reindeer want your help! The sleigh and all the presents need some Christmas colour! Get creative & use your favourite colours to make the sleigh bright & beautiful.
your rent for and the frequency of the payments, and most importantly by one or two days, shows up on your rental ledger. In some software, rental.
Bringing you news from the world of New Zealand property management.
Over the past few months, alongside hundreds of thousands of kiwis the Harcourts network have pulled together in the most extraordinary way to raise funds and awareness for Gumboot Friday.
To our valued landlords, Harcourts wish you a safe and peaceful festive season.
In our biggest network collaboration to date, there were sausage sizzles, auction nights, gumboot throwing and other fun activities across New Zealand. The original goal was to raise $138,000 enough to fund 1000
In warm appreciation of your support during the past year, we extend our very best wishes to you and your loved ones. Merry Christmas!
counselling sessions at $138 each but we are delighted to say that Harcourts have smashed this goal and raised $167,652.45 which will pay for 1215 counselling sessions. Bryan Thomson, Managing Director Harcourts New Zealand said ‘The mental health of young kiwis is something we need to address and look after. Harcourts Foundation are incredibly proud to support Gumboot Friday.’
There is a misconception that when a property is damaged, either due to a natural disaster or flood or fire, or another event, and a property cannot be lived in, either for a short period or an extended period, that the landlord is responsible for providing alternate accommodation for the tenant. This is not the case.
If a property is uninhabitable, the landlord is not responsible for finding alternative accommodation for the tenant, however they would be encouraged to assist if they are able. What a landlord can do, is often determined by their insurance policy coverage.
Many landlord insurance policies will provide alternative accommodation for tenants, so it pays to check and if the cost is covered, then it is recommended to provide the tenant with alternative accommodation.
Different insurance companies have different policies, with different limits they will pay and conditions that must be met. Some insurers provide a ‘Landlord Policy’, and others will have a home policy with a landlord’s optional extras or extensions that are often tailored to a client’s needs.
First and foremost, we encourage property owners to check if they have landlords’ insurance cover in their homeowners or business policy.
☑ Check if landlords’ insurance cover is included
If not, why not? At a small additional cost homeowners can add landlords cover to their policy. If clients are unsure, we recommend that clients contact their insurer or insurance broker to enquire for more information.
☑ Contact Insurer or Insurance Broker for further enquiries
Ensure that there is a current residential tenancy agreement in place between policy holders and their tenants.
☑ Current residential tenancy agreement in place (in writing)
Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted real estate group*, with over 2600 sales consultants across 204 offices and a Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted real estate group*, with over 2600 sales consultants across 205 offices and a growing property management team. For more information visit www.harcourts.co.nz. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information of the publication is accurate, we recommend that before relying on this information you seek independent specialist advice. *Readers Digest Most Trusted Brand Survey 2013-2022.What are landlords covered for and why do I need it?
A landlord’s cover is similar to a house policy in several ways, it was designed to ease the financial burden of loss or damage arising from the additional risks when renting out a property.
Some key risks included under landlord policy coverage are:
☐ Intentional acts, vandalism, or theft by tenants.
☐ Loss of rent when tenants need to move out due to damages clients need to claim on, or if a tenant abandons the property, or if the landlord need to evict a tenant.
☐ Contamination of your home caused by tenants using or manufacturing methamphetamine.
☐ Landlord contents and furnishings damaged by tenants
What if tenants need to be relocated?
In the event that a tenanted property suffers physical damage, and the property is ‘uninhabitable’, meaning the home:
☐ is no longer a safe or sanitary place for anyone to occupy; or ☐ prevented access to the home by order or direction of government or local authorities; or
☐ it no longer has a functional bathroom or kitchen; or
☐ has been determined by government, local authorities, or insurer to be uninhabitable due to physical damage to the home or possible future physical damage to the home.
Then, depending on the insurance policy, a landlord may be covered for the cost of providing alternative accommodation for the tenant. There is generally a time limit placed on the length of insured
cover (usually until the premises is repaired or up to 12 months, whichever is the lesser).
What if there is no alternative accommodation coverage?
If a landlords insurance policy does not cover the cost for alternative accommodation, however, the tenant can relocate themselves and return once the repairs are completed, then the rental payments by the tenants will be temporarily suspended from the date the tenant cannot reside at the property and resumes again when they return back to the property, therefore the landlord isn’t liable for the accommodation costs for the tenant.
If the property is uninhabitable indefinitely or for an extended period of time, then the landlord must give the tenant at least 7 days’ notice to terminate the tenancy, and the tenant can give 2 days’ notice. The rental payments will cease from the date that the property becomes uninhabitable.
If the tenant can continue living at the property, however they cannot access certain areas, then the rental payments should partially abate for that period, reflecting what areas of the premises they are unable to utilise.
Each case will be different, and so will the needs of the tenant. In every case, communication is key so that everyone understands what they are required to do, which is often determined by what the insurer is required to cover. The first place to start in the case of an event, is to speak with the Insurer and be guided by their expertise, and then establish, and where possible, meet the needs of the tenant.
If landlords would like more clarity on their insurance coverage, it is recommended that they contact their insurer or insurance broker for advice.
If a landlords insurance policy does not cover the cost for alternative accommodation, however, the tenant can relocate themselves and return once the repairs are completed, then the rental payments by the tenants will be temporarily suspended from the date the tenant cannot reside at the property and resumes again when they return back to the property, therefore the landlord isn’t liable for the accommodation costs for the tenant.
If the property is uninhabitable indefinitely or for an extended period of time, then the landlord must give the tenant at least 7 days’ notice to terminate the tenancy, and the tenant can give 2 days’ notice. The rental payments will cease from the date that the property becomes uninhabitable.
If the tenant can continue living at the property, however they cannot access certain areas, then the rental payments should partially abate for that period, reflecting what areas of the premises they are unable to utilise.
Each case will be different, and so will the needs of the tenant. In every case, communication is key so that everyone understands what they are required to do, which is often determined by what the insurer is required to cover. The first place to start in the case of an event, is to speak with the Insurer and be guided by their expertise, and then establish, and where possible, meet the needs of the tenant.
If landlords would like more clarity on their insurance coverage, it is recommended that they contact their insurer or insurance broker for advice.
Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted real estate group*, with over 2600 sales consultants across 204 offices and a growing property management team. For more information visit www.harcourts.co.nz. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information of the publication is accurate; we recommend that before relying on this information you seek independent specialist advice.
*Readers Digest Most Trusted Brand Survey 2013-2022.
Buying a first home in today’s market isn’t always easy, and for many prospective home buyers it can feel like there are limited options. While house prices keep going up and every day costs swallow up more savings, it can take several years to save enough of a deposit to get onto the property ladder.
One way around this challenge is with co-ownership: Combining resources with family or friends to save a deposit faster and potentially borrow a larger amount. For many prospective home buyers, coownership offers the opportunity to get onto the property ladder sooner and into a first home faster.
A different way to buy a first home Co-ownership, buying a home with family or friends, could be a solution for home buyers who are not in traditional relationships, who fall short of income requirements, or who do not meet deposit thresholds on their own.
Team up with a sibling, a best friend, or an auntie to combine savings and reach a deposit goal sooner; borrow a bigger mortgage to buy a property that fits everyone’s needs; and share the ongoing costs of owning a property, such as maintenance, rates and insurance.
Someone trying to a buy a home on their own is often disadvantaged, having to rely on a single income and access to just one KiwiSaver Withdrawal and one First Home Grant (if eligible). With co-ownership, you may be able to pool all of your KiwiSaver Withdrawals and First Home Grants (if eligible) to gain even bigger savings and achieve the necessary deposit.
Buying a home with family or friends isn’t all that different to getting a standard mortgage. Each co-owner is a borrower responsible for paying a share of the mortgage and owning a share in the property being bought.
Together, the co-owners decide how the mortgage gets structured, how much each co-owner will repay, how ongoing costs will be split, and what happens in the event the property is sold. All of this important information is outlined in a property sharing agreement, a legal document that all co-owners sign and agree to.
When it comes to getting finance, most co-ownership arrangements work on a joint home loan structure, whereby each co-owner is jointly and individually responsible for the full cost of the mortgage. In most instances, co-ownership mortgages require the co-owners to save at least a 20 per cent deposit of the purchase price of a property they are considering buying.
Co-ownership isn't for everyone. It is important that all co-owners get financial and legal advice before agreeing to this type of arrangement. In co-ownership arrangements, it is not uncommon for disagreements or disputes to arise, particularly if any co-owners do not fully understand the implications of a legal contract. Co-ownership agreements are legally binding, therefore can clarify any issues that may potentially arise.
Before deciding on co-ownership, investigate whether it is right for you. Work with a Mortgage Express branded mortgage adviser who can help you determine if co-ownership fits your unique situation.
www.mortgage-express.co.nz/find-adviser
The views and opinions expressed in this article are intended to be of a general nature and do not constitute regulated financial advice for an individual retail client. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with within this article.
Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted real estate group*, with over 2600 sales consultants across 205 offices and a growing property management team. For more information visit www.harcourts.co.nz. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information of the publication is accurate, we recommend that before relying on this information you seek independent specialist advice. *Readers Digest Most Trusted Brand Survey 2013-2022.
