This article has been taken from stuff.co.nz

Landlords with mortgages on five or more houses will soon officially be classed as “small business owners” – opening them up to closer scrutiny and higher expenses.

The new rules, introduced by the Reserve Bank, come into force on June 30 this year.

Commercial borrowing is usually more expensive than retail, as banks have to hold significantly more capital against the loans. The amount of capital banks are required to hold is based on a percentage of the assets, which are weighted by how risky they are. For example, the risk weightings on BNZ’s commercial property loans start at 70 per cent, roughly double the 30-40 per cent weighting on a home loan. (more…)

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Winter can bring with it issues and problems that many landlords don’t face in the summer.  We hope to shed some light on areas that property owners should be aware of moving into winter.  If you can prepare for these before they arise, you will be a step ahead of the game.

Inspect each property regularly to address any maintenance issues that require attention, rather than waiting to do this in between tenancies.  If you have a professional property manager, hopefully you would have received regular inspection reports identifying any maintenance issues.  Often landlords who wait until properties become vacant are those likely to experience far greater vacancies between tenancies, as the process grinds to a halt as they wait for quotes and tradesmen.

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This article has been taken from stuff.co.nz

In the tight Christchurch rental market, renting a house – any house – can be a tricky business.

Hundreds of people have been known to attend viewings, as the quakes thrust many people who have never rented, or haven’t for a long time, into the rental market.

Compared to Christchurch and parts of Auckland, the rest of the rental market is virtually flat. Even so, good property managers take care to select the right tenant for their properties.

So how do you improve your chances as a prospective tenant? We asked property managers in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland and got similar answers.

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