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Chch tenants still sweating the small stuff

Christchurch property managers are getting calls from tenants to deal with mundane management problems like broken washing machines while in the midst of dealing with earthquake-stricken properties and shaken tenants.

Saturday, September 11th 2010, 11:27AM 1 Comment

by Maddy Milicich

Martin Evans of A1 Property and president of the NZ Property Investors Federation (NZPIF) says although they've stopped regular inspections of properties, the company is still getting calls about jammed gates and washing machines not spinning.

He says overall, tenants have been extremely good and A1 is still showing prospective tenants properties, while at the same time inspecting them for damage sustained in the earthquake.

After an emergency meeting of Independent Property Managers Association (IPMA) members in Christchurch on Monday, Evans says a plan has emerged for property managers to cope with the situation.

IPMA president Usha Ganda-Wilson says it comes down to prioritising calls coming in and dealing with the urgent issues first.

"Safety of tenants is the top priority and then looking at securing properties," she says.

Urgent maintenance includes half-toppled chimneys, burst hot water cylinders and broken glass, and property managers are being urged to keep landlords and tenants up-to-speed on what is being done urgently and what needs to be done at a later date.

After multiple calls from out-of-town landlords, A1 has been emailing all updates to landlords to keep them informed and also to keep staff able to focus on dealing with maintenance and tenant issues.

"We're keeping communications up with landlords so they don't call all the time," Evans says.

"We've also asked all Christchurch-based landlords to check on their own properties and then let us know what state it's in."

Ganda-Wilson says all landlords and property owners need to get official structural engineering reports, not leaving it up to property managers, as they are only able to visually assess properties and the maintenance needed.

Evans says structural reports will also ensure safety not only now but years down the track when other damage may appear.

"It will give landlords peace of mind," he says.

While urgent maintenance is top of the agenda, Evans says A1 is also keeping a close eye on rent arrears, in case tenants decide to take advantage of the chaos and skip on rent payments.

So far no one has tried to stop paying rent, despite the likes of water and sewerage systems not functioning, but Evans says most tenants want to stay put and keep their current houses if possible.

Evans hopes building repairs will start next week, after insurance claims have been submitted and rubble cleared away.

He doesn't see building insurance for landlords being a problem, as all the landlords with A1 have cover which is stipulated on the initial application forms, although suspects not many landlords have cover for loss of rental.

"Our hands are tied. It's a property investor's worst nightmare - the biggest risk of having, say, 10 properties in one city is a natural disaster but you never think one will happen."

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Comments from our readers

On 9 March 2011 at 5:16 pm John said:
Interesting article, does not touch on the tenants possibility to seek address through the Tenancy Tribunal for adjustment of rental fee associated to inconvenience factors
Commenting is closed

 

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Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
AIA - Back My Build 4.94 - - -
AIA - Go Home Loans 7.49 ▼5.79 ▼5.49 ▼5.59
ANZ 7.39 6.39 6.19 6.19
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39 - - -
ANZ Good Energy - - - 1.00
ANZ Special - 5.79 5.59 5.59
ASB Bank 7.39 ▼5.79 ▼5.49 ▼5.59
ASB Better Homes Top Up - - - 1.00
Avanti Finance ▼7.90 - - -
Basecorp Finance ▼8.35 - - -
BNZ - Classic - 5.99 5.69 5.69
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
BNZ - Mortgage One 7.54 - - -
BNZ - Rapid Repay 7.54 - - -
BNZ - Std 7.44 ▼5.79 ▼5.59 5.69
BNZ - TotalMoney 7.54 - - -
CFML 321 Loans 6.20 - - -
CFML Home Loans 6.45 - - -
CFML Prime Loans 8.25 - - -
CFML Standard Loans 9.20 - - -
China Construction Bank - 7.09 6.75 6.49
China Construction Bank Special - - - -
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special - 5.69 - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 6.95 5.79 5.59 5.69
Co-operative Bank - Standard 6.95 6.29 6.09 6.19
Credit Union Auckland 7.70 - - -
First Credit Union Special - ▼5.99 ▼5.89 -
First Credit Union Standard ▼7.69 ▼6.69 ▼6.39 -
Heartland Bank - Online 6.99 ▼5.49 ▼5.39 ▼5.45
Heartland Bank - Reverse Mortgage - - - -
Heretaunga Building Society 8.60 6.65 6.40 -
ICBC 7.49 ▼5.79 ▼5.59 5.59
Kainga Ora 8.39 7.05 6.59 6.49
Kainga Ora - First Home Buyer Special - - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Kiwibank 7.25 6.89 6.59 6.49
Kiwibank - Offset 7.25 - - -
Kiwibank Special 7.25 5.99 5.69 5.69
Liberty 8.59 8.69 8.79 8.94
Nelson Building Society 7.94 ▼5.75 ▼5.99 -
Pepper Money Advantage 10.49 - - -
Pepper Money Easy 8.69 - - -
Pepper Money Essential 8.29 - - -
SBS Bank 7.49 6.95 6.29 6.29
SBS Bank Special - 6.15 5.69 5.69
SBS Construction lending for FHB - - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
SBS FirstHome Combo 4.94 5.15 - -
SBS FirstHome Combo - - - -
SBS Unwind reverse equity 9.75 - - -
TSB Bank 8.19 6.49 ▼6.39 ▼6.39
TSB Special 7.39 5.69 ▼5.59 ▼5.59
Unity 7.64 ▼5.79 ▼5.55 -
Unity First Home Buyer special - 5.49 - -
Wairarapa Building Society ▼7.70 ▼5.95 ▼5.75 -
Westpac 7.39 6.39 6.09 6.19
Westpac Choices Everyday 7.49 - - -
Westpac Offset 7.39 - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Westpac Special - 5.79 5.49 5.59
Median 7.49 5.97 5.75 5.69

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