Alexander: Tenants from hell strike again

United Future law and order spokesman Marc Alexander today pledged to keep pushing for a bad tenants register in the wake of news that the family that trashed a Christchurch charitable trust's house last month has struck again.

"They've hit another house, devastated another landlord, and flown the coop with unpaid rent - and just 15 minutes as the crow flies from the house they had already trashed," Mr Alexander said.

"How did they get away with it? Because the poor landlord in this second case had absolutely no way of knowing who he was handing the keys to his property to.

"And the further tragedy of it all, is that in all likelihood another unsuspecting landlord is showing them around a property today," he said.

Mr Alexander said he is in the process of preparing a report on his proposed bad tenants register and the case for a total review the Residential Tenancy Act, which he will present to Justice Minister Phil Goff.

"Even prior to this case, there has been a huge amount of positive response from many sectors of the community to this idea.

"There are a number of ways in which it could be achieved, and it is quite possible that it could be structured in such a way that good tenants are able to use it effectively as a referee when seeking a place to live."

Mr Alexander also renewed his call for more teeth to be put into the process of recovering property, damages and rent arrears.

"None of this would have any impact on the vast majority of tenants who are responsible and decent people. But it would protect landlords and their very substantial investments from those who are not," he said.

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