30 November 2016

Govt can support people who rent today

The Government has an opportunity to support the more than 1.5 million Kiwis who live in rented homes, when Metiria Turei’s Residential Tenancies (Safe and Secure Rentals) Amendment Bill is voted on this evening.

The Bill extends default tenancy terms, gives tenants first right of refusal when their tenancy agreement is up for renewal, limits rent increases and enforces transparency around them, and restores 90-day notice periods when landlords want to sell properties. 453,000 homes were rented by New Zealanders at the 2013 census.

“People who rent need stability so they can put down roots in their communities,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“Our home ownership rate is at the lowest level since 1951 and more than half of all Aucklanders live in rental homes, so it’s time to fix the rules to give people who rent a fair deal.

“Unstable tenancies mean kids have to move schools too often and people can’t get involved in their communities.

“Even Nick Smith and Bill English admit that now isn’t a good time for young families to buy a home in places like Auckland, so they need to accept that more families are renting for longer. We need to update the tenancy rules to reflect that.

“Mortgage agreements are transparent about when and why payments could change, so it’s only fair that tenancy agreements are too.

“Stable tenancies are good for landlords too, because the time properties are empty and not earning rent is reduced, and tenants look after properties when they know they can call them home for several years,” Mrs Turei said.

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