News and views

With record-breaking real estate prices in and around the Upper Clutha and wider Queenstown Lakes District, it’s not surprising so many property owners have swarmed to peer-to-peer accommodation platforms, like Airbnb, to reap the rewards.

Invercargill City Council’s decision earlier this year to abruptly close the Southland Museum and Art Gallery shone the spotlight back on earthquake strengthening, and serves as a reminder to all owners and occupiers of commercial buildings of the new laws now at play.

We’ve received several requests lately to provide a heads up on what happens when one property owner damages another party’s land. Where do responsibilities and obligations begin and end, we’ve been asked. And, not surprisingly, the big question: who pays?

We’ve all heard the adage “neither a borrower nor a lender be” … wise words, but pretty hard to adhere to in today’s consumerist world!

It’s now nearly two years since significant changes to the Residential Tenancies Act came into force – so, it’s timely for landlords to double-check they are complying with the new laws, and are up with the play on what’s yet to come.

When it comes to legal developments, landlords have had their fair share of information to keep up with recently.

Becoming an Airbnb host sounds like the perfect way to fund some overseas travel for yourself and rent out your home while you are away.

There’s no doubting it, the Airbnb phenomenon has truly bedded in, and, much like Facebook, is such an intrinsic part of modern-day culture, it’s hard to believe it launched less than a decade ago.