Latest news with #andEmployment
1News
2 days ago
- General
- 1News
Deadline passes for rental standards: What tenants and landlords need to know
Time is up for landlords who have failed to bring their properties up to standard, with all New Zealand rental homes now legally required to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards from today. The standards, passed into law in July 2019, introduced minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, drainage and draught stopping. They came into force gradually, but from July 1, 2025, all new and existing tenancies must abide by the rules. Time is up for landlords who have failed to bring their properties up to standard. (Source: Breakfast) Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) head of tenancy Kat Watson said the standards were about keeping New Zealand rentals "warmer, drier, and healthier". ADVERTISEMENT "There is no excuse not to comply and information about what landlords need to do to comply has been provided since 2019." So, what are the standards, what happens if landlords don't comply, and what can tenants do if their homes fall short? A warm, dry and well-ventilated home is the goal of the new standards. (Source: The standards There must be at least one fixed heater that can directly heat the main living room and be at least 1.5kW in heating capacity. Heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be needed in most homes, but in some smaller homes a smaller fixed electric heater may be enough. Ceilings and underfloors must be insulated to a level set according to the climate zone the home is located in. In Zones 1 and 2, which cover most of the North Island, insulation should be 160mm thick in the ceiling and 100mm under the floor. Colder areas, including the South Island and central North Island, were classified as Zone 3 and required ceiling insulation of an 180mm thickness. Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms must have at least one window, door, or skylight that opens to the outside and can stay open. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans. ADVERTISEMENT Rental homes require efficient drainage, including gutters, downpipes and drains to remove stormwater, surface water and groundwater. Homes should not have unreasonable gaps or holes that cause noticeable draughts. One of the properties visited by the TCIT in Northland this year that was found not to be fit for human habitation. (Source: Supplied) Enforcement and consequences Watson said there were a range of compliance tools available to the Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) to ensure landlords met their obligations. In 2024, close to half of 1100 proactive assessments identified Healthy Homes Standard breaches. In the first half of 2025, more than 900 proactive assessments had been completed, with breaches in almost 270 cases. Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and may face consequences. ADVERTISEMENT Larger landlords with six or more rental properties could face penalties of up to $50,000 per breach. Smaller landlords face a lower maximum of $7200 per breach. That $7200 limit applied even if the landlord had broken more than one rule—for example, failing both the Healthy Homes Standards and general maintenance duties would still result in a single maximum penalty of $7200. Watson said landlords unsure about whether their rental was compliant or what work was needed to bring the property up to standard should look to the information on the Tenancy Services website, speak with industry professionals and trusted service providers. TCIT has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal, including formal warnings, improvement notices and the ability to take landlords to the Tenancy Tribunal. What can tenants do if their home isn't up to scratch? Tenants should be moving into a warm, dry, well-ventilated home at the start of their tenancy, Watson said. "If a tenant thinks their home is non-compliant, Tenancy Services advises them to have a talk to their landlord and have a look at the healthy homes compliance statement in the tenancy agreement and refer to the information on our website." Written notice to the landlord to fix the issue within 14 days can be given if they were not satisfied, with escalation to the Tenancy Tribunal if failure to fix the issue is ongoing. "It is their legal right in New Zealand to have a warm, dry home, we encourage them to check our website for more information."
United News of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- United News of India
19 vehicles of MP CM's convoy break down
Bhopal, June 27 (UNI) In a bizarre incident, 19 vehicles of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav's convoy broke down together after diesel allegedly mixed with water was filled in their tanks at a fuel station in the Ratlam district of the state late Thursday night. Authorities carried out an inspection of the fuel station, and subsequently it was sealed. The stalled vehicles, mostly Toyota Innovas, had to be towed away and a replacement fleet was summoned hurriedly from Indore, to be used for the CM, who arrived in Ratlam on Friday afternoon and inaugurated the Regional Industry, Skill, and Employment (RISE) Conclave. According to officials, the vehicles had refueled at the 'Shakti Petrol Pump' at Dosigaon in Ratlam district. According to Additional Collector Shalini Shrivastava, samples of diesel were collected immediately after the matter came to light. She said the petrol pump was sealed soon after. A team of officials collected fuel samples for testing and also checked the petrol pump's underground fuel tank. Officials are investigating whether water was mixed deliberately in diesel or if rain water had seeped into the underground fuel storage tank. UNI XC PRS
1News
19-05-2025
- General
- 1News
Inspectors to check conditions of Dunedin student flats
Tenancy investigators will visit a selection of student rentals in Dunedin this week to check they are up to standard. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team (TCIT) would identify any breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and prompt action by landlords found not to be in compliance. Acting TCIT national manager Clare Lyons-Montgomery said landlords must provide warm, safe, and dry homes. "Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting." Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health, and safety requirements in addition to tenancy law, she added. Lyons-Montgomery said the visit was an opportunity to change the perception that "living in a run-down student flat is a 'rite of passage' and just part of university life". "We want to make it clear to landlords what their responsibilities are and what the consequences of non-compliance are." MBIE engaged regularly with student associations, she said, with this visit another opportunity to encourage students to speak with landlords about issues in their rentals. Otago University Students Association (OUSA) president Liam White said many students were forced to live in "cold, old and mouldy flats" and landlords must be held to account. "Warm, healthy homes aren't optional—they're the legal minimum. We back every move to ensure these standards are enforced, and through OUSA Student Support, we continue to empower students with advice, advocacy, and education across the academic year." All rental properties must comply with the healthy homes standards by July 1, 2025. All new tenancies from July 1 must comply with the standards immediately.
Jordan News
17-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Orange Foundation Graduates the Fifth Cohort of the Coding Academy through the "Digital Upskills and Employment" Program
Orange Foundation Graduates the Fifth Cohort of the Coding Academy through the "Digital Upskills and Employment" Program Orange Foundation Jordan, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Samira Al-Zoubi, representing His Excellency the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Eng. Sami Smeirat, graduated the fifth cohort from the Coding Academy in Amman, which is the first cohort of the "Digital Skills Development and Employment" grant program. This program is funded by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship as part of the "Youth, Technology and Jobs" project, which is supervised by the Digital Skills Association (Digiskills). اضافة اعلان It aims to supply the Jordanian labor market with digitally expert Jordanian youth who possess significant experience and knowledge in various technical fields. During the ceremony, 51 female and male students graduated in the field of software development. The program, which was prepared by the Coding Academy in Amman and implemented under the umbrella of Orange Digital Centers (ODC), lasted for 5 months with 640 hours of intensive training, including 100 hours dedicated to advanced life skills eligible for employment, in addition to developing their English language skills. The program included training in a range of the most important programming and web application development languages, such as HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, ReactJS, and Laravel. In the fifth month, the participants joined a period of practical training in companies specialized in information technology and other sectors, where they had the opportunity to apply what they learned in a real work environment, which enhanced their digital skills, raised their readiness for the labor market, and contributed to increasing their job opportunities. The students have achieved great success in the program, with a graduation rate of 100%. It is worth mentioning that about 40% of the graduates of this cohort have already succeeded in obtaining a job before they graduated from the program, and this percentage is expected to reach about 85% during the coming period, noting that a number of students may turn to entrepreneurial work. The graduation ceremony was attended by prominent figures in the public and private sectors, along with several representatives of the leading technology companies in the Kingdom. The Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Eng. Sami Smeirat, stressed that the development of digital skills is vital to keep pace with the requirements of future jobs, which are largely based on technology and digital transformation across various sectors. He explained that the Ministry believes in the importance of investing in digital competencies as a pillar for Jordan's digital future. It works in partnership with the private sector and Digiskills to empower young people and qualify them with skills that meet the needs of the changing labor market to build a leadership generation capable of leading the digital transformation process in the Kingdom. Smeirat also pointed to the need to expand digital training programs according to an approach based on actual needs to ensure that the skills of young people are aligned with local and global requirements. The CEO of Orange Jordan, Eng. Philippe Mansour, expressed his pride in the results of Orange Coding Academy. Since its launch five years ago, this program has developed intensive training to equip youth with both technical and life skills. He highlighted that the program has proven its effectiveness with over 80% of its graduates successfully securing employment. This reflects the program's ability to prepare qualified professionals who meet the needs of the local market. Eng. Mansour further commended the partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, the Youth Technology & Jobs Project, and the Digital Skills Association. He emphasized that this collaboration will contribute to enhancing the capabilities of Jordanian youth, equipping them with the knowledge necessary for creativity and success in the digital sector. In turn, the Board Member and Treasurer of the Digital Skills Association, Maher Al-Khaiyat, expressed his happiness and pride in the strategic partnership between the Digiskills and the Orange Foundation Jordan, which resulted in this remarkable achievement, as we worked together to empower Jordanian youth with advanced digital skills that open new horizons for them in the labor market. This first installment of the program reflects our shared commitment to building a brighter digital future and providing real opportunities for professional growth.' The graduates of the Coding Academy, which is implemented under the umbrella of Orange Digital Centers (ODC), are the champions of change who seek to improve their lives and develop their skills in line with the needs of the labor market. The number of students who were trained reached more than 1,550 young men and women from different governorates in both the Coding Academy and the Coding School. To learn more, please visit the website:
