Many farmers choose to use additional dwellings on their farms either as accommodation for workers or as an investment property. This can add value to the farm, attract the best workers and supplement the farm’s income, but it can also bring unwanted stress. So what is there to consider when renting out your farm housing?

Renting out your home while abroad is a cost-effective way to bring in extra income while making sure your home is being cared for at the same time. Being both an expat and a landlord can be a tricky situation to be in, especially if things were to go pear-shaped.

Receiving a tenancy tribunal application is a landlord's nightmare, especially when the prospect of a fine is on the table. When dealing with the tenancy tribunal, there is a lot to know, and not having the expertise to deal with it can not only be stressful for the landlord but can also result in a messy outcome.

Buying a property is a big investment, and proper maintenance is vital to the long-term success of any physical asset. Property especially benefits from good ongoing maintenance, as doing so ensures landlords retain good tenants as well as protects the value of the property over time.

Meth contamination in rental properties has been a hot topic over the past couple of years, but a more pressing health issue is beginning to emerge. Mould can have a devastating effect on a property, a tenant’s health, and the value of an owner's investment. From long-term damage and costly repairs to the temporary relocation of the tenant and potential health risks, mould can be a costly problem for everyone involved. While new builds appear to be the golden standard and exempt from such issues, this is not always the case when dampness is involved. The good news is that you can take a wide variety of proactive steps to avoid the dreaded need for repairs.

There’s a common saying; ‘don’t wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait’. And while this may seem sound advice, especially in today’s market, it is only relevant if the investment stacks up on paper. Understanding whether your investment property is worth its weight in gold comes down to many defining factors, the most important, knowing how much return it will generate both short-term and long-term. 

Owning a rental property is an exciting achievement and something many individuals strive to accomplish. Investing in a property portfolio can help set you up later in life as you increase capital gain over time to build a sustainable residual passive income. However, this doesn’t happen overnight and it takes hard work, dedication and time to accomplish.

For most people Christmas rolls two of the best annual highlights into one. In New Zealand we get to have the joy of spending time with family around the tree intertwined with the high likelihood of the weather being good enough for the suddenly full house to spill out into the backyard.

When you're self-managing a property it can seem like the list of jobs just keeps growing. From leaking showers to gutter cleaning it can seem like there are not enough hours in the day. And if you're not staying on top of all the small jobs then the risk of a massive job suddenly rearing its ugly head becomes more and more likely by the year.

Getting your property ready for tenants can be an overwhelming process. With the majority of rental accommodation in New Zealand provided by private landlords, it's safe to say most landlords are not experts, however many have years of experience.  If you're new to the game, how can you compete with the more established properties?