Law changes to the Residential Tenancies Act are now in force (effective from 1 July 2016). Changes to the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) aim to reduce fire-related injuries and deaths and to make homes warmer, drier and safer for the million New Zealanders who live in rental accommodation. Here is the Key information about some of the new changes direct from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Smoke Alarms
From 1 July landlords will need to have working smoke alarms installed in all their residential rental homes. 

- There must be a minimum of one working smoke alarm within 3 metres of each bedroom door, and in a self-contained caravan, sleep out or similar there must be a minimum of one working smoke alarm. 
- Long life photoelectric smoke alarms are now required where there are no existing alarms. When existing smoke alarms are replaced, the replacements must be long life photoelectric smoke alarms. Hardwired smoke alarms are also permitted.
- The landlord is responsible for making sure smoke alarms are in working order at the beginning of every new tenancy.
- Tenants will be responsible for replacing worn-out batteries in the smoke alarms and informing their landlord of any defects.

It is an unlawful act for tenants to cause or permit any interference with, or to render inoperative, any means of escape from fire – which includes smoke alarms. The maximum fine for this offence is $3,000. 

Insulation
All residential rental homes in New Zealand will be required to have insulation to keep a home warm in winter and cool in summer. Social housing (where tenants pay an income related rent) must be insulated by 1 July 2016 and all other rental homes by July 2019. 

Landlords are required to provide a statement on the tenancy agreement for any new tenancy commencing 1 July 2016 about the location, type and condition of insulation in the rental home. 

Installing conductive foil insulation in residential and rental homes is now banned.

Insurance cover - information for landlords
It is important that landlords have some form of insurance cover for their rental properties and that they check with their insurer to be clear about landlord and tenant obligations regarding smoke alarms and fires. Landlords should be aware that:
- Where tenants cause a fire through carelessness (negligence) which damages or destroys the property, they may be entitled to immunity from liability if the landlord has insurance coverage.
- Tenants' immunity exists unless the fire is caused intentionally by them or their guests, by a criminal act on the property (such as manufacturing methamphetamine), or if the tenants have caused the landlord's claim to insurance coverage to be irrecoverable.

Tenancy abandonment process
The new law introduces an expedited process for a landlord to regain possession of their rental property when the property has been abandoned.

The expedited process for regaining possession will enable a Tenancy Adjudicator to decide the case based on evidence landlords have provided in their expedited abandonment application. Landlords will not need to be present when the Adjudicator considers the evidence under this new process.

The Tenancy Tribunal Application Online form has been updated to include the new expedited abandonment process. 

Enhanced enforcement function
The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will have greater enforcement powers, including investigating and taking proceedings to the Tribunal on behalf of the tenant, even without the tenant's consent.

Retaliatory notice
It is now an unlawful act for a landlord to end a tenancy in retaliation for a tenant exercising a right under the tenancy agreement, the relevant law, or by making a complaint relating to the tenancy. This is called a 'retaliatory notice' under the Residential Tenancies Act. Tenants who take direct action against landlords will now be able to challenge an alleged retaliatory notice up to 28 working days after it has been issued.