PHOTO: Wellington
A group of Wellington flatmates have received a nasty shock after discovering they’re trapped in a lease because their landlord is biding time before getting the property up to the Healthy Home Standards.
The standards have now come into effect, meaning landlords need to get their property up to spec within 90 days of a new tenancy.
But renting and student advocates fear more people could become stuck in tenancies they do not want, in poor quality housing.
A Wellington renter who wishes to remain anonymous said she and other flatmates have been looking at moving out of their flat and finding replacement tenants.
But now they have hit a stalemate with the landlord and will have to stay until their agreement runs out next year.
“In the past she’s been totally cool with swapping people out and has actually been a great landlord, but now these new laws have come into place and she has to play ball, it’s not really what she wants and we’re stuck here,” she said.
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