Have you had some dodgy experiences in your time flatting? Do you wanna know if your landlord is a GC or just taking advantage of the fact you're a student? Are all flats meant to smell musty and have drains that don't actually drain?
Take this quiz to test out your flatting knowledge, and to see whether you are in for a trip to the Tenancy Tribunal!
Q1: Can your landlord enter your flat whenever they feel like it?
A. Yes! It's their house, so why wouldn’t they be able to enter?
B. No, I’m the tenant – the landlord must give me warning before popping in for tea.
Answer: B. Under s 48 of the Residential Tenancies Act (which is basically the bare minimum legislation your tenancy agreement must adhere to), landlords must give 24 hours notice for repairs/maintenance and 48 hours notice for a routine inspection. That also feeds into your right to quiet enjoyment (s 38): your landlord can’t unreasonably disturb or harass you, and you can’t unreasonably disturb your neighbours either.
Q2: Your landlord asks for a bond that equates to 6-weeks of rent. You should…
A. Pay it, I’ll totally get that back at the end of the year.
B. Pay it and ask for replacements on all the functioning chattels provided for the flat.
C. Refuse to pay it because I know my rights (and I’m too broke to pay that shit).
Answer: C. The legal bond requirement is 4 weeks rent.
Q3: You notice a massive leak in your bedroom. What should be your first move?
A. Pull up a Youtube video – nothing wrong with some flat DIY!
B. Notify my landlord/property manager ASAP.
C. I can’t be bothered to do anything. The next tenants can deal with it.
Answer: B. You should immediately contact your landlord and/or property manager. If you do not receive an answer, you should issue a 14 day notice (see Q12 for more info on that).
Q4: How often should you be cracking the windows open?
A. Once a month, I actually quite like the musty smell.
B. Once a week – gotta preserve that heat!
C. At least twice a day for 10-15 minutes.
D. When my landlord or my mum visits.
Answer: C. Opening your windows is an important way to ensure there is ventilation through your flat, preventing the growth of mould and minimising dampness.
Q5: Can your landlord demand another separate “security payment” on top of your bond?
A. Yes.
B. It depends on the situation.
C. No.
Answer: C. Landlords may ask you to pay an extra security payment on top of your bond, but your bond is a ‘security payment’ already. Look out for this in your tenancy agreement before you sign and make the document legally binding.
Q6: Your bathroom has a window, so your landlord says you don't need an extractor fan as it “already has ventilation”. Is that necessarily correct?
A. Yes.
B. This is true, but only during summer.
C. No.
D. It depends how big the window is.
Answer: C. To be Healthy Homes certified, you must have a functioning extractor fan in every room that has either a bath or shower, or in kitchens with a cooktop.
Q7: Your landlord asks you to sign the bond refund form before they've written in how much you're getting back. What should you do?
A. Sign it – I can sort it out later with them and delaying my signing might delay when I get my bond back.
B. Sign it – they’ll write in it after.
C. Don't sign it, and indicate dispute through the Bond HUB response.
Answer C: Don’t ever sign anything that's blank. If the amount is not disclosed, then you can disagree through Bond Hub (Tenancy Services online self-service platform). If you do so, you will receive an email with the amount the landlord intends to give back to you, to which you can either agree or disagree. If you disagree again, the dispute process will begin, which you can either resolve directly with your landlord or take to the Tenancy Tribunal. Do not settle until the numbers are actually right!
Q8: Your landlord tells you that you must professionally clean the flat before you can get your bond back. Is this a legal requirement?
A. Yes! Everything needs to be squeaky clean.
B. No. However, I must leave the house in a reasonably clean and tidy condition.
C. This is a legal requirement, but only for students – gotta get that mysterious stain out somehow.
Answer: B. Nope – don’t worry about getting a Rug Doctor. However you must leave the flat reasonably clean and tidy, or at least in the same condition as when you got it. Take some pictures before you move in for reference later.
Q10: What should you do if your windows are dripping with condensation every morning?
A. Ignore it – that’s part of Dunedin’s charm.
B. Dry the windows and sills every morning with a towel.
C. Cover them with an umbrella.
Answer B: Dampness in the flat can quickly lead to mould and get you sick – the windows shouldn’t be dripping like your mum does when I take her out. Zing.
Q11: You and your mates find the PERFECT Castle Street flat just before Saint Paddy’s. Everyone is excited. What should happen before you meet with the landlord to sign?
A. Read the tenancy agreement thoroughly, and take the unsigned contract to OUSA Student Support for review.
B. Check my friends aren't broke – everyone should be able to afford the commitment.
C. Check the property's condition, there should be NO MOULD.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D. There are more adult-y adults who can help make sure you're not signing away your first born child to the devil. A tenancy agreement is a legally binding document, so you shouldn't just wing it like you do with uni assignments.
Q12: What is a 14-day notice?
A. A warning from your flatmate that they're moving out in 14 days.
B. A notice that your rent is going up in 14 days.
C. The amount of time you get to decide whether you like your new flat.
D. A formal notice used when a tenant or landlord has breached certain tenancy obligations.
Answer: D. This is a legal notice giving either the landlord or the tenant(s) 14 calendar days to remedy a problem which is in breach of either the tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. If your landlord is not adhering to the tenancy agreement, then you are within your rights to give them a 14-day notice. If the problem is not fixed within those 14 days then you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal through which you can seek to end the tenancy.
Q13: What does it mean to be a part of a joint fixed-term tenancy?
A. Everyone has separate responsibilities – my flatmates can go fuck themselves for all I care.
B. It’s my landlord’s job to get rent from everyone separately.
C. I can leave whenever I want if I let my flatmates know.
D. We’re all part of the same tenancy and are jointly responsible for tenancy obligations.
Answer: D. This is where your choice of flatmates really matters. If one of you shits the bed, you’re all lying in shit. You and your remaining flatmates are still legally responsible for the full rent even if someone abandons the flat.
Q14: Your flat is freezing, mouldy, and your landlord isn't fixing things. You're starting to question every life decision that led you to Dunedin. Who can you call?
A. My mum.
B. My flatmate's mum.
C. OUSA Student Support.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D. It’s OK to have a cry, but it’s even better to seek support. If you want to take action, have some concerns or want to learn about what you can do in your specific situation, contact OUSA Student Support: http://ousasupporthub.org.nz/
SO… HOW DID YOU DO?
11-14: FLATTING VETERAN
You BEEN flatting! You know your bond from your bills and your Healthy Homes from your mouldy windows. Before you get too cocky remember: knowing your rights is one thing, actually reading the tenancy agreement is another.
6–10: FLATTING ROOKIE
You've got the basics, but there are a few things you might want to brush up on before you sign your next flat. Don't blindly believe a landlord hitting you with “that's just how it works”, make sure you check first.
0–5: FLATTING SURVIVAL MODE
You’re still in halls, and everyone can tell. You’re relying heavily on luck, vibes and your mum's advice, but unfortunately it’s time to grow up at least a little bit. Before signing a tenancy, take a minute to learn your rights and responsibilities – OUSA Student Support is right here to help.
If you ever need to talk to someone about any flatting issue, please contact or visit OUSA Student Support.
Phone: 0800 12 10 23
Address: 262 Leith Walk, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016
