Manawatu Tenants Union
July 31st. 2018
Did you know that there will be more,yes more than 1.6 million people in New Zealand who will be 65 or older, that's around about a quarter of the entire population.In the 2006 census showed that around 64% of those aged between 65-69 owned a home,but in 2013 that figure fell to 60%,There were problems in the 2018 census due to going on line for the first time, the numbers engaged in the census seem to have decreased and the results may not be accurate,leaving a higher number of pensioners in need of affordable housing.
There also appears to be an increasing shift for older New Zealanders to provincial and rural areas,this trend is only going to increase in the future.Those few local councils which are still engaged in the provision of accommodation,will require financial support from central government in the provision of pensioner housing stock.Previous low interest loans provided local authorities with assistance to build more needed housing,the provision of low interest loans was good policy as it worked with the goal of building better communities.This policy was disestablished under the Bolger National Government,as they were only interested in market forces in the provision of affordable rental accommodation,the market will provide was their gospel.The sell off council pensioner housing around New Zealand was a scandal and we are now paying the price for these short sighted policies from the then National government.It should be noted that many councils just let their housing stock fall into poor condition whither this was deliberate policy we don't know.
July 30th. 2018
Theresa May British Prime Minister Speech on Housing
Renters must be treated like'' human beings'' Prime Minister May said in a speech to the National Planning Conference.She pledged to protect tenants from exploitative landlords ''cowboy agents''.Tenants are all too often seen as an inconvenient commercial necessity rather than as individuals with rights and needs.
In a wide ranging speech she highlighted that she had plans to investigate longer tenancies ,ban letting fees and support a warrant of fitness for all rental housing,to make sure all rental property was fit for purpose.
The Prime Minister also said that with no regulation in property management, the door has been left wide open for ''cowboy agents'' with tenants paying a heavy price for the law at present.This is the problem here in New Zealand where agents have too much power and control tenants lives as there is no security of tenure in New Zealand,the agents hold all the cards.Many landlords and agents treat tenants as cash-cows and just ignore basic housing standards.
All this from a Conservative Government but I am sure that the ideas will not happen.
July 25th 2018
Housing Today / Comments
The last Government failed to take any notice of the impact of its housing policies have had on peoples lives.The mess created is entirely the result of the terrible policy decisions they made.It would seem that no member of the then government looked at the evidence of the causes of the crisis.
One idea worth revisiting to bring back some sanity back to the rental housing market is to let Councils borrow more at low interest rates,just like before.At last we have a government that acknowledges that the damage to the rental housing is causing serious problems for families. More New Zealanders see homelessness and high rents as unacceptable,unfair and not in New Zealands best interests in the long term.
July 24th 2018
Just had a look at the latest blog from Real-IQ,a Wellington based property management company that has an interest in encouraging landlords to join them or other property management agencies.Hence they are big supporters of the regulation of property managers,who have an big say in the lives of tenants, the power and control managers have to be taken out of the game and have respect for the tenants who provide them with a reasonable income.
The Renters United gathering in Wellington on July 11th, launched their ''Plan to fix Renting''.Some of the ideas which were mentioned were ''No Clause Evictions'' where the landlord should have to give a reason for an eviction.Also discussed was that a tenant would just have to give 7 days notice to move out,This is not a good idea that would work for everyone,families with school children need longer in a tight rental market to find accommodation in the same neighbourhood. One good thing about the 7 day notice is that tenants do not have to be two rents while securing another rental property.Which is a big issue for tenants.
Rent control was brought into the conversation,with landlords being against any form of rent control.The fact that rents were high and incomes low did not cut it with the landlord set.The accommodation supplement,which is a landlord subsidy already costs the New Zealand taxpayer around $3 Billion and climbing.Some form of rent control will have to be looked at,as the number of people renting is on the move,with more people in rental accommodation than ever before.The culture of renting has arrived in New Zealand after a long period of home ownership which was the preferred option for New Zealanders.
The National / Maori Party /Act government have a lot to answer for the removal of housing policy that worked for the majority of the people of New Zealand,we had one of the highest home ownership rates in the developed world ,now we are at the bottom of the ladder.The gathering was great,a bit like the old New Zealand Network,which was starved of funding by the National led government and died.The Minister of Housing did not like their failed policies to be highlighted by those who worked in the sector. A New Zealand Tenants Union has to be the next step for those fighting for tenants rights and obligations,there is strength in unity to maintain houses fit for purpose at an affordable rent,a living rent.
July 10th 2018
The Practice of Rent Bidding.
Rent bidding,a practice common in cities where housing is difficult to secure,is based on the landlord or property manager asking prospective tenants what price that they would be prepared to pay for the property.The winner is the one who can pay the most after outbidding all the other tenants,there are few if any checks done to check that the tenant is a good risk, just a good payer of the inflated rent being asked.
It is just an unacceptable business practice which has taken root in New Zealand,mostly in larger metropolitan cities.
The practice of rent bidding disadvantages average income tenants,there is nothing fair about this business practice,just a case of who has the fattest wallet.It is yet another indication just how far we have changed from once being a fair and caring society,to one where greed is acceptable.
Housing Minister Phil Twyford has said that a review of tenancy laws is underway,and they would consider what can be done about the practice of rent bidding.
The rental market has changed in New Zealand with renting now the norm for increasing numbers of New Zealanders.Rental laws have to reflect the changing rental landscape that is New Zealand today.
July 9th 2018
Did You Know
Submission's are being heard in Wellington at the select committee hearing's over the issue of letting fees which property managers charge tenants for signing them up to a tenancy agreement.This practice is now banned in all other like minded countries,it is seen as a fee that should be paid for by landlords.
One of the submission's warned that property managers could become creative and charge costs,when letting fees are banned [break lease fees - pet bonds-administration fees ].
It is good that creative fees are getting some oxygen and that the select committee will legislate to prevent these from becoming law.All that should be required is the present 2 weeks rent and up to 4 weeks bond no other fees,the fees are another cost to the tenant on top of the 6 weeks in advance.
Policy Paul Barber [ New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services ] made some pertinent points.
Disproportionate cost of letting fees on vulnerable tenants. Half of the New Zealand population, more than 2 million people are renters.Most people living in poverty were renters,very few of the wealthiest and high income earners are renters.Two thirds of people of Pacific ethnicity rent Maori also figure high in the rental league tables,while less than a third of European ethnicity rent.
7 out 10 children live in poverty in rental housing and they are likely to spend most of their lives in rental accommodation.
Most tenants are more likely to move around seeking affordable and decent accommodation and these moves make the tenants incur more costs with letting fees.The banning of these fees has been long over due and the facts above can testify for the need to abolish letting fees.
It is now the time to end the social apartheid that has become mainstream in a country that once prided itself on being an egalitarian society.Lets help make New Zealand a great place to call home,my place.
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