For the many landlords who opt to manage their residential properties, careful tenant selection helps mitigate issues of managing tenants once they have signed up to a rental agreement and have moved in. There are occasions when all does not run smooth and the tenant does not adhere to maintaining their part of the tenancy agreement; when this happens, Tenancy Services (Department of Building and Housing) and if required the Ministry of Justice may be required to assist with “Mediation” or may need to be resolved through “Arbitration”.

The prospect for many landlords of going down this path may seem a little daunting. In reality there is nothing to fear as landlords should be well familiar with the process of mediation and/or arbitration intervention and be prepared to initiate either as early as any tenancy problem arises.

Our speakers for our March meeting will be Jan Macneill from Tenancy Services and Mary Jeffcoat, a Wellington based Barrister & Solicitor and Tenancy Tribunal Adjudicator. Jan and Mary will give refresher presentations on both the Mediation and Arbitration processes from the initial application being submitted through ultimately to a Tenancy Tribunal Order being given.

Tenancy Tribunal Orders Online
Whilst on the subject of Tenancy Tribunal Orders, Ministry of Justice plans to have all Tenancy Tribunal Orders publicly available on the internet late February as a resource for both landlords and tenants; Mary has indicated she will be happy to talk to this as well.

Members are asked if they have any specific issues that they like considered to be addressed as part of the evening’s presentation to forward them to the speaker via your association’s office.

Where: Kingsgate Hotel Portland, 24 Hawkstone Street, Thorndon, Wellington
When: 13 March 2007
What Time: Meet 7.00pm for 7.15pm start
Investment: Capital PIA Members Free, all visitors $20.00 per person