Monthly Landlord Newsletters

Welcome back to the Propertyscouts Monthly Landlord Newsletter, where we update you on all things New Zealand property market, investor insights, seasonal reminders, and more.

New meth regulations for rental housing to take effect

Meth contamination has been one of those “grey area” problems for landlords. From 16 April 2026, clear rules come into play:

• Readings over 15µg/100cm² will need to be cleaned up

• If levels go above 30µg/100cm², the property could be deemed uninhabitable, and the tenancy may be ended

Read more here. 

The Latest Ask An Expert from Within the NZ Property Investor Magazine

Propertyscouts is a designated property management expert in the popular magazine - NZ Property Investor. Propertyscouts, recently entered a response to their recent 'Expert Advice Q&A'. Read our latest entry below:

Question: I’m looking after a rental property for my sister while she’s living overseas. It’s one of four townhouses on a shared driveway, and hers is the only one that faces the road. The tenant recently asked whether it’s fair that she’s expected to maintain the berm, given that the other three townhouses also benefit from it but don’t front the street. I’m not sure what the correct approach is here - should the tenant be responsible, or should the maintenance be shared? Can you help clarify how this is usually handled?

Answer: This is a good question, and one that comes up more often than you’d think with multi-unit townhouses where only one property fronts the road. The first thing I would do is check whether there is a body corporate or a residents’ association in place. If there is, the constitution or operational rules often state that the appointed manager is responsible for arranging landscaping contractors and overseeing upkeep of all common areas. In many developments this includes the berm, even if only one unit directly borders it. If that’s the case, your tenant shouldn’t be maintaining it at all.

If there’s no body corporate or residents’ association, then things become a little less clear. Technically, the berm belongs to the Council, but in practice they expect the adjoining occupier to keep it tidy. The issue here is that while your sister’s unit faces the road, the berm effectively serves all four townhouses. It’s therefore not especially fair or reasonable to place full responsibility on one tenant simply because of how the block is positioned.

In situations like this, the best approach is for the owners or occupants of all four properties to agree on a fair system - either taking turns or sharing the cost of a lawn-mowing contractor. Your tenant has done the right thing by raising the question, and it’s worth clarifying the arrangement so expectations are clear going forward.

Property Insights in Uncertain Times

Trying to make sense of the economy right now feels a bit like reading a crystal ball in a hurricane. With the Middle East crisis unfolding and oil prices bouncing daily, past data on the housing market isn’t much help - it’s already out of date before we even look at it.

That means making bold calls about where the economy is headed? Risky business. No one really knows how high oil prices will climb, how long they’ll stick around, or what kind of ripple effects they’ll have on inflation, business costs, and house prices.

But obsessing over the uncertainty isn’t much better - the news is already swimming with “what ifs” and zero clear answers.

So, what’s a savvy property owner or investor to do? Probably the best play is to:

• Keep an eye on how the economy was tracking before the shock

• Watch for early signs that things are shifting

• Avoid blindly extrapolating numbers that could shift drastically

Despite the global turmoil, the expected upturn in our economy is still likely - just a bit softer than first thought. Read more here

Landlord Fined After Renting Out Sheds & Containers

Think a shed or a shipping container makes a trendy rental? Not according to the Tenancy Tribunal. A landlord in North Canterbury was ordered to pay $29,216.80 after renting out places that weren’t meant for humans - missing smoke alarms, dodgy bonds, and Healthy Homes breaches included. 

Lesson learned: just because you can squeeze a bed in doesn’t mean you should. Click here to read more

Quote to Ponder

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” - William Butler Yeats

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Disclaimer

Given the opinions expressed in parts of the email, it’s important that we make it clear that the contents are opinions and observations and made in good faith.  

Propertyscouts 2025 Limited, trading as Propertyscouts, and its associated parties (including directors, agents, employees, officers or otherwise) have attempted to provide   this information to the best of their ability but do not make any representations or warranties of any nature (intended or implied) as to the accuracy of the information on this communication. All recipients of this communication should conduct and rely on their own enquiries in relation to the information on this communication.

The information available on the properties listed for sale, rent or otherwise, has been obtained from the vendor or landlord of the property and the appropriate professional service providers. We do not and cannot verify or guarantee the accuracy of the information obtained in relation to the properties.

The information and/or materials available in this communication are intended to be general information only and may be changed at any time, without notice to you. The information and/or materials in this communication should not be relied on under any circumstances as a substitute for legal, financial, real estate, or other professional and/or expert advice. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Propertyscouts and its associated parties disclaim all liability, responsibility, and negligence for any direct or indirect loss or damage suffered by any person arising from the information and/or materials presented in this communication or any information and/or materials that arise from it.