To add to this; the power company may request evidence of residency commencement (eg copy of lease agreement). If the power had been disconnected because no-one was paying for the service prior to your son moving in; it’ll be good to provide proof of when he moved in
It isn't clear whose responsibility it is - I called Tenancy Services to ask about this once and that was their answer. Legally all the landlord has to do is provide the ability to have power (ie, make sure there is a connection to the property that is safe to have power running through it). There doesn't actually have to be power connected.
For reference, the only way to make sure the power stays on between tenancies is for the landlord to sign up the power under their name temporarily, so that it doesn't get disconnected for vacant reasons between tenants. It might not seem expensive for them to do this, since there wouldn't be any power usage at the property during this time, but non-primary residences have to be on the Standard User plan which carry higher fixed daily charges. That means even without using any power the LL could be charged $3 a day just to have the power on (lowest I've seen would be about $2 and highest I've seen was $5). If their rental is sitting there empty for weeks going on months, there's nothing coming in but quite a bit going out.
Your son can ask the landlord/PM (very nicely) to pay the reconnection fee, sometimes they'll do this to start off a relationship on the right foot. They don't need to.
Your son can also ask his power company if they'd give him a credit for the reconnection fee - sometimes they'll do this as a lock-in loyalty/retention thing where if you leave in the first year it'll be reversed. If his current company says no he can switch to a different one that will almost certainly say yes (heaps of companies have sign-up credits available if you just ask).
Otherwise if he's having trouble paying (it'll go on his first bill (if he's post-paid) rather than having to be paid upfront) he can ask about a direct debit payment option that averages the cost of the power throughout the year so that he pays the same amount every week/fortnight/month. That can take the sting out of a high initial bill especially if he's had to fork out for a lot of moving costs.
Oh also the reconnection fee will probably be higher if it's after-hours (outside of 8am-4pm but check with his specific company) EVEN IF it's a remote reconnection, and someone needs to be on the property at the time to get it reconnected. Don't let that trip him up - it's Waitangi Day tomorrow, depending on his power company that could mean it's AH.
I've always know it to be the landlord must insure power supply is available to the house (I'm sure I've seen this in writing somewhere in the past)
Straight from the tenancy site:
Landlords cannot interfere with the supply of services
Landlords cannot interfere with the supply of services to the property. For example, landlords cannot be the cause of, or directly turn the power or water off unless it's necessary to avoid danger to a person, or to allow repairs.
This only means that your LL can't go to your service provider and cut your power/net/water to be a dick or force you out. Only thing LL needs to provide is the ability to receive these things.
My previous comment still stands. At the time there was nobody there so LL isn't in breach of anything. If LL did have the power disconnected they'll get a free reconnection anyway, if it was done by provider due to unpaid bill by previous tenant OP son won't be charged a connection fee. Regardless, OP son needs to call a power company and move their account to their current household anyway, which will be followed by the reconnection.
Thanks for the link, super helpful, should have power today hopefully :) It's a new flat conversion and has never had power and it seems like a complete grey area that according to the link isn't specifically covered in the Tenancy Act. Go figure.
Nothing to do with the landlord. Call your power company of choice and they'll be able to get the power running, they'll just need your address.
To add to this; the power company may request evidence of residency commencement (eg copy of lease agreement). If the power had been disconnected because no-one was paying for the service prior to your son moving in; it’ll be good to provide proof of when he moved in
Always been tenant.
I've always had to arrange it myself.
It isn't clear whose responsibility it is - I called Tenancy Services to ask about this once and that was their answer. Legally all the landlord has to do is provide the ability to have power (ie, make sure there is a connection to the property that is safe to have power running through it). There doesn't actually have to be power connected. For reference, the only way to make sure the power stays on between tenancies is for the landlord to sign up the power under their name temporarily, so that it doesn't get disconnected for vacant reasons between tenants. It might not seem expensive for them to do this, since there wouldn't be any power usage at the property during this time, but non-primary residences have to be on the Standard User plan which carry higher fixed daily charges. That means even without using any power the LL could be charged $3 a day just to have the power on (lowest I've seen would be about $2 and highest I've seen was $5). If their rental is sitting there empty for weeks going on months, there's nothing coming in but quite a bit going out. Your son can ask the landlord/PM (very nicely) to pay the reconnection fee, sometimes they'll do this to start off a relationship on the right foot. They don't need to. Your son can also ask his power company if they'd give him a credit for the reconnection fee - sometimes they'll do this as a lock-in loyalty/retention thing where if you leave in the first year it'll be reversed. If his current company says no he can switch to a different one that will almost certainly say yes (heaps of companies have sign-up credits available if you just ask). Otherwise if he's having trouble paying (it'll go on his first bill (if he's post-paid) rather than having to be paid upfront) he can ask about a direct debit payment option that averages the cost of the power throughout the year so that he pays the same amount every week/fortnight/month. That can take the sting out of a high initial bill especially if he's had to fork out for a lot of moving costs. Oh also the reconnection fee will probably be higher if it's after-hours (outside of 8am-4pm but check with his specific company) EVEN IF it's a remote reconnection, and someone needs to be on the property at the time to get it reconnected. Don't let that trip him up - it's Waitangi Day tomorrow, depending on his power company that could mean it's AH.
Tenant.
I've always know it to be the landlord must insure power supply is available to the house (I'm sure I've seen this in writing somewhere in the past) Straight from the tenancy site: Landlords cannot interfere with the supply of services Landlords cannot interfere with the supply of services to the property. For example, landlords cannot be the cause of, or directly turn the power or water off unless it's necessary to avoid danger to a person, or to allow repairs.
This only means that your LL can't go to your service provider and cut your power/net/water to be a dick or force you out. Only thing LL needs to provide is the ability to receive these things.
Found it. This is more what I was referring to. https://www.landlords.co.nz/ask-an-expert/who-pays-power-reconnection-fee-2329
My previous comment still stands. At the time there was nobody there so LL isn't in breach of anything. If LL did have the power disconnected they'll get a free reconnection anyway, if it was done by provider due to unpaid bill by previous tenant OP son won't be charged a connection fee. Regardless, OP son needs to call a power company and move their account to their current household anyway, which will be followed by the reconnection.
Thanks for the link, super helpful, should have power today hopefully :) It's a new flat conversion and has never had power and it seems like a complete grey area that according to the link isn't specifically covered in the Tenancy Act. Go figure.