Tenants' objecting to renovations
Question from Alex updated on 22nd February 2011:
Our expert Jeff Montgomery responded:
Any amendments or variations to a tenancy agreement need to be agreed on by both the landlord and tenant. If your tenancy agreement included a shower which the landlord has removed as part of their renovations, this may be considered a variation of the tenancy agreement which requires the consent of both parties. However, if the shower over the bath was removed and replaced with another shower (e.g. a separate shower), the landlord may have fulfilled their obligations.
If the landlord no longer wishes to provide a shower as part of the tenancy and an agreement cannot be reached, you could apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to have the matter resolved. As an alternative, you could negotiate a variation to your tenancy agreement with your landlord, such as a rent reduction. To discuss your situation further, or for information about applying to the Tenancy Tribunal, you can visit the Department of Building and Housing website (www.dbh.govt.nz), or call 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262).
The Department of Building and Housing provides information and guidance on building law and compliance, services including weathertight homes, and advice for tenants and landlords.
