If you are a landlord, you should carry out regular inspections. This helps you check that there is no damage and the tenant is keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy. You should also carry out repairs promptly. It helps to have a good network of service people if you cannot do the work yourself.

Inspections

A landlord cannot give notice to end a tenancy because the tenant has asked for repair or maintenance work to be done. This is called a retaliatory notice and is an unlawful act.

Retaliatory notice

Rubbish removal

Tenants are responsible for keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy from the start to the end of the tenancy. This includes the removal of their rubbish from the property.  

Where the local council has supplied rubbish or recycling bins for the property, the landlord should pass these services on to the tenants. If the cost for the bins/service is part of the rates and not on a per usage basis, it is the landlord's cost. The landlord is not required to provide more or better rubbish facilities for the tenant, but they can choose to. 

If the local council does not provide bins or bags for rubbish/recycling, the tenant will need to buy their own.

If the bins go missing through no fault of the tenant, the landlord needs to arrange a replacement through the local council.

Landlord responsibilities for indoor maintenance

Chimneys

Cleaning the chimney is usually the landlord’s responsibility. The tenant is responsible for cleaning the ashes from the hearth. The landlord may wish to have the chimney swept and checked at least annually to make sure this is safe. Some insurance policies will not cover the property unless this is done.

Ducted heating and ventilation systems

Landlords are responsible for servicing any ducted heating and ventilation systems. Tenants should regularly ventilate the home by opening doors and windows to let fresh air in (even in winter). This helps maintain healthy air inside the house and reduces the amount of moisture, making the house easier to heat and less likely to grow mould.

Landlords and tenants can be responsible for light bulbs

The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 does not cover who is responsible for supplying or replacing light bulbs.

It’s a good idea to talk about this at the start of the tenancy and note what you agree in the tenancy agreement. It may be that the landlord supplies working light bulbs at the start of the tenancy, and the tenant replaces any that stop working.

As non-standard light bulbs can be more expensive or harder to fit, the landlord may agree to pay for these.

Landlords and tenants should maintain the outside of the house

The landlord is usually responsible for outside cleaning and maintenance tasks. This includes tasks such as washing the house or cleaning the gutters.

The tenant can do outside cleaning tasks like window cleaning, as they are responsible for keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy. This only applies if the windows are accessible. It does not include windows for apartment buildings or multi-level houses. It is a good idea to discuss this at the start of the tenancy and note what is agreed on the tenancy agreement.

Methamphetamine (“meth”) testing

Any person (including landlords and tenants) can carry out a screening assessment on a property to check for the presence of meth residue. For a screening assessment to be valid, it must use an approved testing method and have its instructions followed correctly.

If a landlord is made aware of a valid screening assessment that shows the property is contaminated with meth, they are required to arrange for more detailed meth testing. This may require the landlord to decontaminate the property if the results of this detailed test confirms that the property is contaminated.

Guidelines on meth contamination