Stick it to your next landlord.

We're getting to that time of year when everyone is starting to think about next year’s flatting arrangements. For those of you that have already gone through this painstaking experience, you know that nothing comes easily, and anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Before you get over zealous, and agree to a way-to-good-to-be-true agreement, SCOUT OUT YOUR NEXT LANDLORD.

Flatting as a student can be a little fucked up in terms of power dynamics, Landlords love to skirt the rules and cheap out on the basics, and a majority of the time they get away with it because so many students are new to flatting and don't know their rights.

A lot of flats in Wellington are beyond shit, but at the end of the day if you've got decebt flat mates and a decent landlord, your life will be 10x less stressful. The things that will absolutely ruin your year are a falling out between friends, and a landlord that fucks you over.

I can't tell you how to pick your friends, but there are a couple of things I can tell you to make your flat hunt go smoothly.

If you go on the Tenancy Tribunal website you can search Tribunal decisions. Look for your prospective landlord's name, their company name, and the address of the place you're looking at to see if they've had rulings against them in the past. Landlords may seem nice at a glance, but if they’ve fucked over previous tenants, there's no doubt in my mind they’ll do the same to you again.

Ask about whether there is insulation in the flat. The Healthy Homes Guarantees Act enforces minimum standards for heating, insulation and ventilation. For those of you finding cheap rooms within inner city apartment blocks, check for windows. For a room to be called a bedroom, it must have a window that opens to the outside.

If there are renovations planned for the summer, remember you do not have to pay rent for a flat that is not in livable condition. Just because you are out of town doesn't mean your landlord can turn your room into a construction site. They can’t charge rent while they do that.

But it's one thing to know the rules, it’s another to enforce them. Obviously going to the Tenancy Tribunal is a big process and we don’t all know law students who can fight our battles for us. Luckily, you can always call the Tenancy Services hotline on 0800 836262 with any question whatsoever, even if you think you sound like a moron. And of course, there's various student association support staff, which exist to help students in sticky situations.

Signing a tenancy agreement might be your first introduction to the dark world of dodgy contracts and shady business people. Do your due diligence and don’t get sucked into the trap.

Shot,

Mason