Many older New Zealand rental properties still have open fire places. Often they are in poor repair and because they no longer comply with council bylaws, are unable to be fixed legally.
When I started in rental property investment, my reaction was to board up all the open fireplaces, regardless of their condition because I considered them to be unsafe. In hindsight, I think that damp issues caused by tenants using cheap, unvented gas heaters ended up causing more problems than an open fireplace ever would have. A gas bottle will expell a bucket of water into the air, creating mould and consequently, health problems.
If you have a serviceable open fireplace in an older rental, it would certainly be worth considering allowing the tenant to use it if modern quality heating is not available. Ensure that the chimney is properly checked and cleaned and the tenant has a safe fireguard to prevent any accidents or stray coals. Providing them with suitable fireplace tools would be a good idea too.
If you decide that an open fire is not suitable or that it’s not in good enough condition, you need to make some changes to ensure that the fireplace is not going to be a problem. Firstly, it pays to clearly change the visible use of the fire. I’ve tried leaving it open but painting the inside of it white. That was pretty clear to most people but even then, some half-wit tried to light a fire in it. It was the billowing smoke due to the total absence of a chimney that gave it away!
The best thing to do is to board over the front of the fireplace. This removes the temptation to light fires or flick cigarettes into it and also stops any draughts. If the chimney has no cap on it, you should also cover the hole to prevent rain, birds and possums from falling down it!
As mentioned earlier, unvented gas heaters can cause serious problems. Add a clause in your tenancy agreement forbidding the use of them and if the budget allows, look into alternative heating options such as air conditioning, storage heaters, vented gas heating, heat transfer systems or insulation. A vented gas heater may even fit into your old chimney.
As heating and insulation become more pressing issues for rental properties in New Zealand, it will be better to gradually improve heating in your properties to prevent being caught out by any legislation that may well go througb in the future. It will also make your property more attractive in comparison.
