The Importance of Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney

Having enduring powers of attorney (EPAs) and a will in place is important for every adult whatever their age. A will is a legal document that lets you decide how you want your property, care for your dependants (partner, children etc.) and your body to be dealt with after you die. EPAs allow you to appoint a trusted person(s) to make decisions on your behalf regarding your property and health when you are unable to do so yourself, during your...

Rental Property Standards

The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 requires landlords to provide and maintain rental properties in a reasonable state of repair for the tenants. When deciding what is a ‘reasonable state of repair’ one must consider the age and character of the property and how long it’s likely to remain habitable and available to be lived in. It should also be noted that the Act requires landlords to provide properties in a reasonable state of cleanliness for the tenants - although it does...

Important Changes to Employment Law

There have been a number of changes to employment law recently, some of which took effect from December 2018, including changes to union access and collective bargaining processes, and a greater emphasis on reinstatement if employees have been unfairly dismissed. A further raft of changes will be effective from 6 May 2019 with two of the major changes being: 1. 90 day trials From 6 May 2019 only employers with less than 20 employees can include trial period provisions in new contracts....