Alert Level 2 Rental Property Guidelines

As the COVID-19 management requirements change, the Alert Level 2 rental property guidelines have been released. Keeping many of the same physical distancing requirements as Level 3, there are some changes that both landlords and tenants must be aware of.

Alert Level 2 Rental Property Guidelines for Landlords & Tenants

Play it safe is the theme of Alert Level 2, and the requirements of both tenants and landlords are related to this. We’ll look at the specifics for both a tenant and a landlord (property manager) separately. Overall though, everyone is required to comply with the 2-metre physical distancing rule, not to visit a rental when they are sick or someone in the rental is sick, and all activities to be as contactless as possible.

Information for Landlords and Property Managers

• Rental viewings - these can occur with no more than a maximum of 10 people visiting at a time. Contact details of those on-site must be recorded and COVID-19 information is given to viewers beforehand (electronically if possible). The viewings must be as contactless as possible, so all doors and cupboards need to be opened by the landlord or property manager before viewing begins. Shoes must be removed and hand sanitiser offered for attendees. If tenants have been unwell with flu-like symptoms or in contact with a COVID-19 positive person in the past 14 days, no viewings are permitted. Attendees must also not be ill. At the end of the viewing, all surfaces which may have been touched must be sanitised by the landlord or property manager.
• Property maintenance – both routine and urgent property maintenance can occur. Contact details of the tradesperson who attend must be kept by the landlord/property manager. Any areas the tradesperson touched, they are required to sanitise themselves. They must also keep the 2-metre distance rule.
• Appraisals and inspections – property managers can undertake on-site property inspections as well as rental appraisals. Two-metre physical distancing must occur, with sanitising of any touched surfaces and use of hand sanitiser. No one within the rental or visiting the rental can have had any flu-like symptoms within the past 14 days or been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

Information for Tenants

• flu-like symptoms – if anyone in the property has had flu-like symptoms within the past 14 days or been in contact with someone who has, please let the landlord or property manager know when they contact you to make an appointment to visit.
• tenancy termination – until at least the 26^th June 2020, no tenancy can be terminated unless there are specific circumstances.
• rent still must be paid – a landlord cannot make an application to end a tenancy to the Tenancy Tribunal for rent arrears until you are at least 60 days late in paying rent.
• rent freeze – the rent-free remains in place.

For further information, please contact our team of property managers directly on 09-948 3255.