A new lease on LIFE

As the housing market spirals to near unattainable heights for many Kiwis, renting is fast becoming the new way of life. While renting has its perks, such as being able to live in beautiful, old villas without worrying about money-pit surprises — the practice can be restrictive if you want to adapt your home to suit your personal tastes. However, thanks to a change in tenancy law regarding minor changes and fittings to rental properties, there are some nifty ways to upgrade your space.

Know your rights

In the past year, tenancy law changes have come into effect that provide improved rights for tenants, especially for those that are DIY dreamers or interior lovers. Tenants can now ask to make small alterations to a property and a landlord cannot decline if the change is minor. A minor change is defined as any fixture, renovation, alteration or addition to the property that has a low risk of damage, can be easily reversed, and doesn’t require regulatory consent. So, while you can’t knock down that pesky extra wall, you can paint walls or put up some shelves.

Before you get too ahead of yourself, you need to write to your landlord