Mould.
Ew.
Don't. Touch. My. Special. Pan.
That is MY pan.
SHUT UP. IT’S 5AM. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE ON LOOP. THAT VOICEMAIL YOUR EX LEFT YOU IS NOT THAT PROFOUND. When your flattie is a soundcloud rapper.
The flattie's partner who basically lives there rent free.
(Okay I’m sorry I’m guilty of being the partner, but at least I helped clean and brought my own food.)
When your flattie brings over... "Special" Guests. (PLURAL) - Yeah dude… I didn’t need to hear you disappointing three girls at once… Time to bleach my ears.
When your flatties touch all your soaps and shampoos.
I was the only girl in an all male flat. WHY did they wanna use my vanilla and rose scented shower scrub so bad?
When the landlord thinks they're top sht and that it's an HONOUR for you to live in their grotty, overpriced, converted office building with barely any working appliances.
I JUST WANTED A RANGEHOOD OVER THE STOVE.
Designate a Captain!
This person can be in charge of communicating with your landlord, making sure that all interactions are running smoothly (rent is on time, things get fixed, etc.)… Maybe give this person less chores cos goddamn some of these landlords are HARD to talk to.
When you all get sick at the same time.
Let’s just blame the mould for this one.
Rotating Chore Chart.
Maybe randomise it and pull chores out of a hat, or have a roster that switches the chores up every week. We all gotta pitch in somehow, right?
On That Note: JUST DO YOUR CHORES.
Ugh, I know, how dare you have a designated job to help out the people you live with. The audacity. CLEAN THE BATHROOM GODDAMN. INCLUDE STICKERS IF YOU HAVE TO. DON’T MAKE EVERYONE SUFFER.
Lock Up Your Liquor.
Or any drinks. I have lived with some THIEVES before that constantly pinched my Gin. I suggest the sock drawer, or your closet.
Calendars Are Helpful!
Put one up in a common area, allocate each flattie a highlighter colour, jot down times people are out of town when the next flat inspection will be, birthdays!!! You gotta celebrate your flattie’s birthday. (And judge them if they’re a Scorpio.)
GROUP CHAT GROUP CHAT GROUP CHAT!
Communication is key, just don’t send petty texts unless you want to be exiled. (I don’t care if you’re mad that they didn’t do their dishes; there’s a polite way to remind them)
Flattie Bank Account!
So all the money for rent, utilities, and necessities are all in one place ready to go.
Obviously the ‘Kato team know very little about flatting. Any Monday morning office chat about DnD and movie watching would make that obvious. So we reached out to WSU Support Manager and Advocate Sterling on the condition that he give anonymous advice. Then we ignored the last part and named the section after him with photos.
Are you a Tenant?
Understand whether you are a tenant or a flatmate. It is easily misunderstood by many who do not understand the distinct difference between the two. A tenant has a verbal or written agreement with the landlord to live in the property, whereas a flatmate is someone who has a verbal or written agreement with a tenant. A tenant’s rights are vastly different to a flatmate’s rights.
A flatmate does not have as many rights as a tenant would. They would be subject to a flat sharing agreement rather than a tenancy agreement which protects the tenants more comprehensively.
Landlords are required to complete all their duties under the ‘Residential Tenancies Act 1986’.
The landlord has several duties they must perform:
1. Making sure the house is in a reasonably good condition
2. Maintenance of the property and any necessary repairs
3. Ensure that the insulation, smoke alarms and healthy home standards are all compliant
4. Provide written notice of at least 60 days before they put the rent up (if it is at least 12
Ensure that you sign at least two contracts: a tenancy agreement so that you are protected and have legal standing within that property. A bond form, which is a declaration form that you have paid your bond and that upon your departure, you would be entitled to it being refunded. Also, a bond form should be lodged with tenancy services within 23 working days.
The flat legally has to meet the ‘Healthy Homes Standards’. Now these are quite comprehensive and cover the entirety of what a healthy home should look like so if you move into a house and think that something is shit and wouldn’t meet the standards, then follow up by cross-referencing with the healthy home standards tenancy.govt.nz. An example would be the need for the landlord to install at least ONE fixed heater in the main living room.
months since the last rent increase)
5. Give notice before they are to enter the property
6. Lodge the bond money within 23 working days
If the landlord fails any of their duties/ responsibilities, then a tenant can issue a ‘Notice To Remedy’ which essentially is a written record of you informing the landlord that they are failing you tenants.
If any damage has been caused by a tenant then the landlord must give the tenant the opportunity to fix the damage or agree that it would be a deduction from the bond.
Your landlord can inspect the property no more than once a month and you must be given 2 - 14 days notice.
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