Maintaining your property
DIY (Do It Yourself) home maintenance is popular in New Zealand, although there are some tasks that can only be completed by licensed professionals.
Looking for regional info?
There’s a good overview of the basic maintenance tasks most houses require and how to handle problems, on a website set up by New Zealand’s leading consumer organisation.
Dampness can be an issue with houses in New Zealand, and they need to be properly maintained to avoid problems.
There are good tips on reducing moisture in your home and maintaining good ventilation on the EECA Energywise website.
If you are planning to build, renovate, or repair your home, be sure to find out if the work is considered restricted. A licensed builder must carry out restricted work on your home. For more information on restricted work, and who to hire, read the "Hiring a builder" section on the Consumer Protection website.
If you’re renting, you’re required to keep the property - including the garden - clean and tidy but maintaining the building is the landlord’s responsibility. However, tenants are obliged to notify the manager of the property if you notice something needs to be fixed.
Owners and tenants should contact their power company for advice if they think that trees are getting too close to power lines.
Hiring a builder | Consumer Protection
Quake safe your home
One thing you have to be aware of about living in New Zealand is earthquakes. We’re one of those Pacific Rim countries that get a few.
There are a number of things you need to do around your home that will help prevent injury and damage if an earthquake strikes.
They include simply putting putty (BlueTak) or non-slip mats under ornaments and small objects and making sure pictures and paintings are securely fastened. Tall furniture that might sway and fall should be attached to walls using brackets and the hot water cylinder should be secured with a restraining kit.
Download the information supplied by the government’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) and read more information about preparing for disasters in our Safety section.
Easy ways to quake safe your home | EQC (PDF 1.6MB)