Insurance bill time waster is trashed

“Tenants and landlords will be breathing a collective sigh of relief following a Labour MP’s back-flip on a bill that would’ve driven up rents and forced some tenants onto a blacklist of the uninsurable,” says National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley.

“At the widely estimated $7000 per minute it costs to run Parliament, it would be an interesting exercise to work out how much taxpayer money has been wasted on Maryan Street’s bill.”

Ms Street says she has written to the Office of the Clerk of the House asking for her member's bill to be discharged.

In answer to parliamentary questions, Ms Street confirmed she hadn’t spoken to any of the major industry players before putting forward a bill that would have made landlords responsible for damage done by tenants and their guests.

Mr Heatley says at the select committee stage, industry experts concluded it was unworkable.

“National has consistently argued against it on the basis that it would drive up rents as the costs were passed on.

“National also shared industry concerns that leaseholders left in the lurch by irresponsible flatmates would end up on a tenant blacklist through no fault of their own.”

However, Mr Heatley has a warning for landlords and tenants because Ms Street has said that parts of her Bill will be picked up through a Department of Building and Housing review of the Residential Tenancies Act.

“Property owners and tenants will need to stay vigilant. Labour may not have totally given up on this widely criticised and potentially costly idea,” says Mr Heatley.

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