Supplied appliance faults in New Zealand rentals

Identify what the tenancy actually supplied

Check the tenancy agreement, condition report and property inventory for the item. Record whether it is an oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, heat pump or another appliance supplied with the property. Include the make, model, serial number and exact location where they can be read safely.

The Electricity (Safety) Regulations say a landlord must not provide or allow the use of electrically unsafe fittings or appliances and must provide adequate instructions for their safe use. Keep the available operating manual or safe-use instructions with the property record and make them accessible to the tenant.

Triage warning signs before routine troubleshooting

Ask about smoke, flame, electric shock, sparking, a burning smell, scorch marks, unusual heat, water and repeated tripping. Smoke, fire, serious shock or immediate danger belongs with 111 first. For other warning signs, tell the tenant to stop using the appliance, avoid touching it again and keep clear until it is assessed.

Do not ask a tenant to remove a cover, pull out a hard-wired appliance, open the switchboard or repeatedly reset a breaker or RCD. A photograph is useful only where it can be taken without approaching smoke, exposed wiring, sparks or standing water.

Record the fault in the tenant's own words

Record what the appliance was doing, when the problem started, any displayed error code, sound or smell, and whether the fault is constant or intermittent. Ask which controls were used and what else lost power, but do not turn those observations into a diagnosis. A dishwasher that stops and a breaker that trips can involve the appliance, its connection or the supplying circuit.

Include recent leaks, cleaning, renovation work, pest activity, power interruption or appliance movement. These details help establish a timeline without deciding who caused the damage. Property responsibility and any tenant liability should be recorded separately from the technical fault finding.

Send the right trade for the affected part

A failed appliance can need an appliance technician, an electrical worker or both. Fixed wiring, socket outlets, isolators and hard-wired connections belong with a licensed electrical worker. A fault within the appliance's non-electrical specialist components may need the manufacturer or an authorised service agent.

Tenancy Services says landlords cannot do fixed wiring at a rental property and should use licensed practitioners where required. Give the contractor the full address, appliance record, fault description, safe photographs, access contact, owner approval and relevant previous repairs so the first visit can be scoped sensibly.

Close the repair and update the property record

Tenancy Services says a landlord should arrange maintenance or repair within a reasonable timeframe after becoming aware of an issue that is not the tenant's fault. Keep the report date, instructions given to the tenant, attendance date, test findings, work completed, parts replaced, invoice and safe-use instructions. Record any unresolved recommendation and who owns the next action.

UBL Electrical can handle approved fixed-wiring, connection and electrical fault work for supplied appliances across Auckland within its licensed scope. Send the property and appliance details for a free quote, or call 021 0284 3210. UBL will state the electrical work completed and whether another appliance specialist is needed.

• Inventory entry, make, model, serial and location
• Fault time, error code, sound, smell and operating state
• Smoke, heat, sparking, water, shock or tripping
• Affected circuit and safely taken photographs
• Access, owner approval and previous repair history

Related guides