Two Tier Society

                            Affordable rental housing is perhaps the greatest social issue of the decade.To achieve a fundamental change in state housing,will require the power of central government.Increasing numbers of people want government to use its considerable power to do good,to cut poverty,rebuild public services and give people hope.

                            The lack of affordable rental housing is a health and inequality time bomb.Day after day we hear and read media reports of children,yes children living on the streets of Auckland.Many other families live in cars,garages or are living in overcrowded housing,and we wonder why we have a two tier society. These problems are to be found here in Palmerston North,it is just not an Auckland issue it is nation wide.

                         The Manawatu Tenants Union along with other community agencies in the city deal with a growing tide of homeless families.A number of families are housed in motels as they are not seen in need of a state house.Make no mistake housing is in crisis and needs to be rebuilt into a state asset,like the one that served the country well for decades.The need has never been greater,as the housing crisis is here  and will not go away.If you are not outraged-you're not paying attention.

                         The government appears to be turning a blind eye to the problems their housing policies are causing thousands of New Zealand families,all political parties should be trying to sort out the mess that is Housing New Zealand.          

                                          

Homelessness in the City

                                    We all know that politicians are creatures of the short-term,who prefer to ignore the big issues that need to be addressed.Affordable,decent rental accommodation is a big issue,as home ownership has become a mirage for the majority of New Zealanders.But our politicians seem to be saying more and more about less than less.

                                       Central government says that the answer to unaffordable housing to charge people more rent,by moving  state tenants into the private rental sector.Portrayal in the media of tenants living in state housing is due to an embarrassing personal failure.It is supported by central government as a relic from the past,rather than a public legacy to be proud of.

                                   There is no denying that there is a major problem of unavailability of state housing.The MTU has seen a growing number of women and their families in serious housing need,homelessness is increasing in the city of Palmerston North.

                                     Politicians came from a world they no longer represent.There has to be a change in housing policy for the social well-being of the present generation.We owe them that.If nothing else,housing is the cornerstone of family life and supports a stable community.            

                                

                                TENANTS WARNING

      

            The Manawatu Tenants Union has concerns about the use of a Pre- Occupation Fee being charged by Property management companies.It is now a refundable fee,where previously it was charged as a an administration fee.The Manawatu Tenants Union is of the opinion that the fee was Key Money,which is prohibited under clause 17 of the RTA.

Clause 18a of the RTA states that a landlord may not require a  tenant to provide the landlord with  any form of security to secure any payment or performance arising out of,or in connection, with the tenancy.

However a landlord could charge a Pre- Occupation Fee,as long as the total of all money collected,as bond,did not exceed the equivalent of 4 weeks bond and it was lodged with the bond office. 

The MTU is collecting information on this practice and we are interested in speaking with tenants about their experience's concerning  add on fee's.You can contact us on 06 3577435 and leave a message if there is no one to answer the phone or call into the Community House King Street Palmerston North.