Cashing in on the baby boomer market

Late last year the Salvation Army published an interesting report into housing Baby Boomers. The report claimed there will be around 200,000 people who in 2030 will be aged over 65 years old and not own their home. That should interest all forward thinking rental property owners.
15-01-2016 more >>

Are you paying too much for insurance?

The NZPIF has researched the property insurance market and found that some policies are not targeted for rental property and cost over 40% more than others.
10-12-2015 more >>

Comparing cycles

Andrew King was the first presenter at the 2015 NZPIF Conference and was asked to update attendees on the property market and where we are in the cycle. He said it was very interesting to do the research and see how different this cycle is behaving compared to previous ones.
10-11-2015 more >>

Green Party's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill

Despite the minimum standards not even being in law yet, the Green Party has already reignited the issue with their Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill. A large part of this Bill is the call for a full WOF for rental property.
04-10-2015 more >>

Analysing claims for exemplary damages

Tenancy Tribunal statistics show that nearly 50% of the tenant applications against landlords contained a claim for exemplary damages from the landlord, while less than 0.5% of landlords applications were for exemplary damages.
31-08-2015 more >>

Calls for removing mortgage tax deductibility

Rental property owners have continued to be the focus of all attempts to reduce house prices in Auckland. Some commentators have said we need to make it even harder for investors in order to stop house price rises and give first home buyers a chance.
01-07-2015 more >>

Property tax aimed at speculators

Our industry has been hit with a double punch over the last week. The Reserve Banks increasing LVR limits for Auckland rental property owners to 30% (don't laugh too hard in the provinces, you may be next) and the Government bringing in an effective Capital Gains Tax called a Bright Line Test.
13-06-2015 more >>

Reserve Bank consults on new asset class for residential rental property loans

Last month I wrote about the Reserve Bank releasing a consultation document on their proposal to separately classify residential rental property loans from owner occupied residential loans. The NZPIF have now examined the consultation document and made a submission on the Reserve Banks proposal.
15-05-2015 more >>

Reserve Bank seeks to increase loan costs

Just before Christmas last year, the NZPIF had a meeting with Reserve Bank officials concerning comments made by the Reserve Bank Governor and their plans to increase the borrowing costs for rental property owners with five or more rental properties.
22-04-2015 more >>

Call for property investors to pay more tax

Towards the end of last year, an organisation called the Financial Services Council (FSC) launched a campaign to reduce the tax obligations for Kiwisaver savings and some term deposits
15-03-2015 more >>

Good time to check your rents

Demand for rental property from tenants tends to increase during the months of January and February each year. Because of this, these months are an excellent time to check your rental income to see if your rates should be increased.
22-02-2015 more >>

It's the start of another year

The start of a new year is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your property investments and identify if you are still on track to reach your goals.
15-01-2015 more >>

Why is providing homes seen as a sin?

I simply cannot understand why the general New Zealand population has such a grudge against property investors. Our investments combined with the time and energy we put into them provide people with homes. Isn't this a good thing?
12-12-2014 more >>

Gen Y needs hope for a home

A recent report showed that Generation Y, those under 28, were increasingly believing that home ownership was unachievable and were spending their money on travel and shopping rather than saving for a deposit on a house.
15-11-2014 more >>

Election result good for tenants and landlords

I'm writing this the day after the election, grateful to the publishers for an extension in providing this article. During the week leading up to the election I was wondering if NZ First was going to be the King Maker and if we would even have a Government by the time you read this. Thankfully the result was clear cut and Labour announced quickly that they couldn't form a Government.
10-10-2014 more >>

Are we all worthy of safety?

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has used a study by the Otago University's Injury Prevention Research Unit to call for a Warrant of Fitness for rental properties
22-09-2014 more >>

Are overseas migrants and rental property owners to blame for the high price of property?

Overseas migrants and rental property owners have received a lot of undeserved blame for the high price of property in New Zealand. However it may be that a new target is in the sights of those looking for someone to blame for the current level of house prices.
08-08-2014 more >>

New Zealand property prices 61% overvalued compared to rental prices

A recent report by the OECD claimed that NZ property prices were 61% over valued when compared to rental prices. However another way to look at this statistic is that rental prices in New Zealand are too cheap.
22-07-2014 more >>

Political policies affecting the rental housing industry

Over the last month I have spoken at Property Investor Associations about political policies affecting our industry. It wasn't good news on the whole and I have been asked by a number of younger investors' if it is still worth investing in rental property.
23-06-2014 more >>

5+ Rentals to mean corporate loan status

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) has introduced new rules that will come into effect on the 30th of June this year. These rules will see rental property owners with five or more rental properties classed as either income producing real estate or small to medium enterprises (SME's).
22-05-2014 more >>

What could be covered in a rental WOF?

There are currently two WOF systems being developed. One is a voluntary scheme currently being trialled by five Local Authorities around the country, the other is being developed for Housing NZ properties.
15-03-2014 more >>

WCC undertakes rental property WOF in February

The Wellington City Council recently released a media statement confirming that a trial Rental Property Warrant of Fitness was going to be undertaken during February. Local Authorities in Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin are also taking part in the trial.
22-02-2014 more >>

Time to rethink goals as the new year starts

It is the start of a new year and you may well be on your break from work commitments as you read this. With a bit more time on your hands and hopefully in a rested and less stressed environment, this is a wonderful opportunity to think about the higher aspects of your investments. Just why are you investing in property and are you on track to meet your goals?
15-01-2014 more >>

Auction of the houses in "The Block" TV programme

Last month the latest edition of “The Block” television program ended with the houses that the four contestants renovated being auctioned on the open market.
13-12-2013 more >>

NZPIF Strategic Plan adopted by Associations

What I believe to be a significant event in New Zealand’s Rental Property Industry occurred during the NZPIF AGM in Wellington last month. Associations voted to accept the NZPIF’s Strategic Plan, which included the employment of an Executive Officer and a Communications Officer, each on a part time basis.
15-11-2013 more >>