Being a landlord in New Zealand is not what you think it is.

You might imagine someone sipping flat whites in a linen shirt, checking their online banking while tenants magically pay rent on time and houses stay miraculously intact. I wish. The reality? Let’s just say I’ve seen more broken promises than a reality TV reunion episode—and none of it makes for good dinner party conversation.

Over the years, I’ve managed everything from tidy family homes to commercial spaces filled with even less tidy stories. I’ve scrubbed floors I didn’t dirty, forked out thousands to fix damage I didn’t cause, and waited months for the legal system to acknowledge what felt obvious from day one. I’ve met some wonderful tenants, yes—but also some that left me wondering if common sense had quietly packed its bags and moved offshore.

The thing is, I’ve mostly kept quiet. Because landlords are expected to “take it on the chin” while smiling politely and being accused of causing the housing crisis—despite paying the mortgage, the rates, the insurance, and replacing the oven again because “it just stopped working after the flat party.”

And let’s be honest—if I named names or got specific with timelines, I’d likely be served with a defamation notice before I’d even hit “publish.” That’s why this blog exists. A safe space. A storytelling sanctuary. A pressure valve.

Landlord Diaries is where I’ll share the real side of being a landlord—warts, wins, and weary sighs included. Names will be changed, dates disguised, but the stories? 100% true. Think of it as a documentary, if David Attenborough narrated The Bachelor: Property Edition.

I’m not here to throw a pity party (though if someone brings cake, I won’t say no). I’m here because landlords are being backed into corners, and no one seems to care until something burns down—literally or financially.

If you're a landlord, I hope you’ll find solidarity and maybe even a chuckle here. If you're a tenant or just curious, I hope you’ll see a side that rarely makes it to the headlines. Not all landlords are greedy tycoons—some of us are just trying to protect our investment and stay emotionally intact.

In time, I’d love to include stories from other landlords too—because believe me, I know I’m not the only one walking this tightrope.

So here we go.
Truth wrapped in tact, dipped in sarcasm, and served with a side of reality.
Welcome to the dark side.

— Jan Maree