Rent reparation
Question from Lincoln updated on 29th March 2019:
We have a rental property that has botched repairs that was signed off by Fletchers. EQC have acknowledged inferior repairs and have a repair strategy for remedial work. This will take six weeks. EQC have declined paying temporary accommodation costs for our awesome tenants who want to stay and who we want to keep. This will cost us $2,500 in lost rent.
We are struggling to understand why it is not covered given that the house when we brought it some two years ago was seemingly compliant but now EQC have accepted it is not. How, or can we, seek reparation for temporarily relocating our tenants? If so, how would we do this? (I know we are not being unreasonable here.)
Our expert Bernard Parker responded:
The matter of lost rent is a matter between you and your insurer. Some people have a landlord extension insurance policy which provides cover for loss of rent. However, without that specific cover you may not be entitled to such recompense. If a property is uninhabitable and the tenants have to move out for a period of time, their liability for rent is suspended for that period. In return, it is their choice (and expense) as to what alternative accommodation they choose to use.
Bernard is principal of Quinovic – Kapiti-Mana. Quinovic's outstanding people and systems provide the most professional, effective and reliable residential property management service in the NZ market for over 30 years.
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