Manawatu Tenants Union
December 14th 2017.
From the Irish Times.
Just read an article on about a BBC series called "Today the landlord moved in" followed a range off landlords as they moved into their tenants accommodation and tried to live like they did.While some landlords were shown to be complacent about the grim state of their properties and lacking in understanding the daily struggles of their tenants have in their daily lives.
It was only by being placed in their shoes that the scales were lifted from their eyes,and they could finally see all the faults and repairs that their properties needed,and the unfair rents they were charging for them.
One of the problems being exposed was simply that landlords do not know or care about their rental properties.The key point to understand about property investment is that it is a passive activity like owning shares,it is a constant hands- on responsibility.
Professionalism requires that you divide business and pleasure into separate spheres, this does not mean that tenants and landlords can not be friends. It is just that the circumstances between them is different while landlords want to know everything about their tenants,tenants know little or nothing about their landlord or the property agent.
All landlords -agents should be registered, to bring a bit of balance and fairness into the regulation of rental properties.
Here in New Zealand we have a television programme, centered around renters and the issues,like property managers,who maintain control of tenants lives. It would be interesting to try and understand each others problems with the rental market.
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December 1st. 2017
Lets hope the government will be able to empower tenants,as renting is now the new normal.The idea of tenants not having to pay a letting fee,is welcome news and will be of great benefit to tenants.One weeks rent plus GST is a reasonable amount of money to find on top of the 4 weeks bond plus 2 weeks rent in advance,along with other moving costs.At present it costs tenants around $2,300 to move into an average property around Palmerston North,so with no letting fees to pay, it will be of great assistance.
Landlords are the group that should be paying for this service as the property managers work on their behalf,not their tenants.
Strong legislation is required to introduce a Warrant of Fitness for all rental properties so that they are fit for purpose.This is not rocket science,it is in everyone's interest to have a place to call home that is fit to live in with their families, and will add value to the property when and if the landlord decides to sell up.
November 29th
As the new Labour led Government settles into its work,the one feature that the public has found out just how divided the country has become.Housing is a big issue that will get the attention that it deserves.
To date we have had a number of position papers on changes to the rental accommodation market which will bring more balance into the landlord/tenant relationship.
While we ear the usual outcries from some landlord agencies many of whom are still in shock from the loss of the National led government and pledging to sell their rental properties.They seem to believe that the new government will make the present housing worse not better.
Some of the problems to be addressed are 1 The issue of security of tenure could see much improvement where tenants could be giver longer notice periods to replace the 42/90 days notices as at present.
Letting fees would be abolished for tenants.
Rent increases would be kept to a once a year review,which would be really beneficial to tenants,living on a budget.The MTU will be keeping a close eye on these moves
November 15th 2017
Just to carry on from our previous blog. There is enough evidence to highlight the need for some form of emergency/ night shelter accommodation for those who are homeless.It is estimated that a homeless person cost's the taxpayer a conservative $ 200,000 in emergency department visits alone.
You have to question where is the sense in pursuing policies that have reached their use by date and have failed to deliver decent outcomes for those seeking accommodation.Would it not be cheaper to build more state housing ? Let's trust that the new government start a house building scheme soon,one of the problems with such a large scale building scheme will be having enough trades people to complete the job.
Another area of the Labour led government,s housing policies concerns the much needed improvement's for those who rent their home.While it is important to highlight the importance of home ownership,the rental market will be leading the way in those seeking secure accommodation.Home ownership will be an aspiration which will be beyond many tenants
while rental accommodation will be the reality for growing
number's of those seeking accommodation.
The new government intend's to improve the security of tenure for tenants which at present is one of the worse in developed countries ,the nearest New Zealand gets to security is that Housing New Zealand are good landlord's and assist their tenants when thing's go wrong for them.
There will be an end to the practice of letting fee's which is long overdue landlord's should be paying for this service.Rent increases will be limited to once every 12 months and the amount that the increase shall rise by.There is is also the review that a proper Warrant of Fitness will be reviewed,it should that the Warrant of Fitness was brought to the attention of the New Zealand public by the Manawatu Tenants Union in 1995. The improvements are required to improve the social well being of New Zealand families who use rental accommodation as their only choice to provide for their families.
The Manawatu Tenants Union will be following the progress of these proposed improvements.
November 14th 2017
Emergency housing is needed now and into the future as the new government look at ways to increase the housing stock.Families sleeping in cars ,garages and in emergency motel accommodation and in overcrowded flats,there has to be change.
One idea from Indian architect Anupama Kundoo is interesting,she has designed low cost sustainable housing,which can be assembled by the tenants.The home is every DIY fans dream,constructed from minimalist blocks made from ferro-cement ,a type of mortar that uses mesh wire and light steel,the homes look strikingly modern.
There is no need for furniture,the blocks double as furniture and as storage.Inside the compact house there are platforms that can be used for sleeping ,cooking and eating .
Potential uses for the modular homes include student accommodation, farm workers accommodation,the technology is versatile,these homes are the answer to emergency accommodation needs and the cost is low around $ 8,000. per unit.It is well worth looking into to see if the model could be adopted here as a form of emergency accommodation.
November 13th 20017.
Now that the election is out of the way and we have a new government in place who have a different perspective on the housing crisis that they inherited from the National led government.
The homelessness and the creation of a permanent underclass by the John Key government,and it should be noted that his housing ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett led the charge in the creation of the housing crisis. While it will take sometime to get housing back to where it should be,as the cornerstone of family life,it is good that it is at top of the agenda,where before it never got a mention.
While the National Party along with their supporters are unhappy with the election outcome,they still don't get the message that homelessness and the running down of public services created the underclass,that is their legacy.
The new government has embraced that change is required to improve the lives of the growing number of tenants who will never own their own home.The Manawatu Tenants Union will follow with interest the progress of improvements for tenants in their dealings with their landlord,and property managers who have too much power and control over tenants lives.
October 24th 2017.
The general election has seen the end of the National led government's old complacent attitude's when it comes to housing. The housing crisis will get the attention it needs and deserves.
The selling of state housing to private interests has been destructive to the rental market,rents just keep increasing and properties are not fit for purpose in many cases. The invisible hand of the market has failed to deliver the promised cheaper rents and choice.Under the National led government's watch,the life blood has been slowly drained out of state housing and many tenants have paid a high price with homelessness for many.They can not be trusted to look after the less fortunate among us.There are benchmarks by which a civil society measures itself,basic housing healthcare and an effective social security net,when there is not we all pay the price.
The incoming government has a regeneration plan to rebuild the state housing system and to improve tenants rights in security of tenure as well as other problems in the rental market.It should be noted that there are more tenants today than at anytime in our history,tenants and affordable housing are used to being ignored so lets hope that there will now be more of a balance in the rental market for all.
Overseas, there is a lot of interesting stuff happening ,countries like Finland have fewer homeless tenants than many other developed countries.Their government can build a home for around $60,000 they are an improved version of a prefab that look really cool,we can do that over here.Central government will have to lead the way forward as the market is only interested in profits.
The new government must put housing on the top of its agenda so all New Zealanders have a place to call home,which is essential for a stable society.
October 13th 2017.
Just to continue on the subject of property managers having to be licensed.Billions of dollars of rental properties are in the hands of property management companies,yet to the present time they have no rules governing their business practices.Calls for its inclusion in rules for real estate agents were rejected by the National Government in the early 1990's.Despite the fact that more New Zealanders are in the rental market,today there are more renters than home owners.
So no one is keeping an eye out for complaints from about property managers behaviour from those seeking accommodation.Regulation of property managers is the norm in most other developed countries in the world,overseas property managers have to be licensed and meet minimum qualification requirements.But in New Zealand it is the wild west,cowboy country.
Here in New Zealand property managers have total power and control over those seeking accommodation. They require a letter from your employer or WINZ,you require a drivers licence or passport for ID,they want your car registration number,credit checks are also a required. On some tenancy agreements methampetamine tests can be conducted,even though this is still to be approved by the justice system at present.The Manawatu Tenants Union is of the opinion that landlords should make sure that their rental is free from P and safe to be lived in by tenants,they should be tested if required after every tenancy.
It should be noted that tenants know nothing of their landlord or the property managers character,being licensed would help readdress the imbalance in this business relationship.This imbalance will happen as renters demand a fairer system when seeking rental accommodation all it will take is the political will from central government.
October 11th 2017.
Now that the elections are out of the way and we are waiting to find out the make up of the next government,housing will be high on the list.
The idea of a " property-owning democracy " the backbone of the center right parties,is for many a thing of the past,and it isn't coming back.Many young people are more than likely to be working in poverty and they are less able to buy a home.They rent instead from people who enjoyed a much better deal than them,in fact they have been burdened with more debt than their parents.
The unspoken pact between generations '' that each should be better than the last has been destroyed by the embrace of free market polices.''
The Manawatu Tenants Union is still working away to have property managers licensed to operate a rental letting business,in all other developed countries this is the case,New Zealand being the exception where anything goes.A licencing system would give tenants the knowledge that they are dealing with people of good character based on the fact that they are licensed to rent accommodation.
At present we are interested in hearing about landlords who offer housing in poor condition and are slow to do repairs to the rental property.They charge market rents for housing that is not fit for purpose,so ring the MTU if you have issues with bad landlords as we run a hot and cold file on landlords and property agencies that don't play the game.
Manawatu Tenants Union 06 3577435 Anytime
We are based in the Community House in King Street.
October 5th 2017
International Tenants Day.
The first Monday in October has been designated as International Tenants Day.This year the head office in Stockholm has particular emphasis on fire regulations and fire safety.This choice was brought home by the devastating and tragic fire in Grenfell Tower in West London.
The Manawatu Tenants Union along with the New Zealand Fire Service arranged a stall in the City Library to highlight fire safety in the home.It was an excellent opportunity to deliver our message along with The New Zealand Fire Service on the dangers of fire in the home.It was viewed by a number of people and we would like to say thanks to the library staff who assisted with our small exhibition.
The background to the International Tenants Day dates back to 1986 when the decision was made to designate the first Monday in October to highlight issues facing tenants around the world.
Here in New Zealand there are not many tower blocks around the country like Grenfell Tower,some high rise blocks are in Auckland and are tenanted mostly by International students.
Most families are living in ground level housing,but no one has security of tenure,they face rising rents and are at the wrong end of the housing ladder,in the present housing crisis.The present National led government are ideological not in favour of providing state housing,this is the wrong move in trying to house desperate families looking for affordable housing.Now with the election out of the way and with the Labour Party pushing the present administration to the left on housing issues,something will change and rental housing gets the attention it deserves.
September 18th 2017.
Just to carry on from" Who made them homeless".The Prime Minister at the time Jim Bolger has now come out and said that the neoliberalism ideology his government followed has failed to deliver to a better society for all New Zealanders.
All it has delivered is a broken society with an increase in housing poverty and health care,the old saying comes to mind "the rich gets all the gravy and the poor gets all the blame",how true that has turned out to be.
So it is quite an admission for Mr. Bolger to say that his government got it wrong. National Prime Minister's since have just carried on with their failed policies that have delivered the broken society that is the new normal in our country today.
This is why there has to be a change in direction for the next incoming government,so that future generations have a brighter future to look forward to,they deserve that along with hope that we can do better for all New Zealanders.
So make sure you get out and vote and make it count so that is hope that things will improve for all of us who call New Zealand home.
Renters Cookbook Launch
September 21st at the Youth Space Coleman Pl./ George Street
6.30 Till 8.00
The Manawatu Tenants Union working along side
Massey University Students Association are having a cookbook
launch on Thursday 21st. in the Youth Space Center.
There will be a microphone floating around for questions from the floor on issues concerning renting flats we hope to have stories about renters bad experiences when flatting. There will be a panel consisting of Keith Hilson [HNZ ]
Michelle Flavel [Womens Refuge ] Alistair Saywell [Property Investors Association ] and Kevin Reilly [Manawatu Tenants Union].Throughout the discussions and rants, snacks will be available and Ben and Daniel will be cooking some dishes from the cookbook.
So come along and bring a plate if you want that would be great, should be an interesting night for everyone,OK see you there.
September 11th 2017
Interesting to read the story by Paul Mitchell Sept. 9th "Landlords wary of Reforms". Lets cut to the chase here,landlords will still have power and control over their tenants and apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for evictions on breaches of the RTA 1986. Landlords are running a business not a charity.
The culture of renting is now the norm in New Zealand society,generation rent is the future for increasing numbers of families.The housing reforms from the 1993 National,introduced a range of policies which directly caused the housing crisis that faces New Zealand today.
As for the comments from National MP Ian Mckelvie that the proposed rental changes proposed by the Labour party would drive out investors out of the rental market,is just nonsense.To state that the government providing the provision of housing would be detrimental for all New Zealanders is beyond the pale and highlights just how removed he is from the lives of everyday New Zealanders.
Housing New Zealand maybe the biggest landlord in the country but private landlords control the rental market with 87% of that market,Housing New Zealand are small players in the bigger picture,more state housing is needed not less and it will bring a bit of competition to the rental market,which is fair for all those seeking affordable and decent housing.
Who Made Them Homeless.
September 8th 2017.
Over the last 25 years, New Zealand has gone from being one of the most egalitarian societies in the developed world to one of the least egalitarian,on the issue of the rental housing market.
The 1984 Labour Government had a number of
members Roger Douglas,Richard Prebble to name just two,who pushed to see the selling of state houses to the private sector they did not believe in central government provision of rental housing.Helen Clark was the Minister of Housing at the time and fought a long battle,for government provision of state housing for working class families.She won the battle for Labour's values and belief in supporting the wider community.
When the National Party won the election in 1990 it was a changing point in New Zealand' political history.John Luxton became the Minister of Housing and straight away introduced the Housing Reforms that was the catalyst for the housing crisis that we have today. Luxton was captured by the Business Round Table and implemented their report "Some Broader Perspectives"on housing policy.The bottom line was that Housing New Zealand should sell all its housing stock to private investors and retain around 10,000 state homes for emergency housing.Introduce market rents for all state houses,and introduce an accommodation supplement for renters who struggle to pay market rents,a landlords subsidy.Another area covered by the reforms was the disestablishment of State Advances,Housing New Zealand Loans and the Capitalization of Benefits.All these programmes to first home ownership were scraped with the stroke of the minister's pen,up till then New Zealand had one of the highest home ownership rates in the developed world.Local Authorities were also put under pressure to sell their housing stock many did so,the Minister John Luxton stated that the reform programme would deliver tenants choice in their housing along with cheaper rents,this never happened all that was delivered was poverty and homelessness.The National Government sold 13,500 plus state homes,92% were bought by private investors only 8%of tenants were in a position to purchase their homes. In some cases private investors paid up to $16,000 less than the sitting tenant.
The incoming Labour government started a building programme to replace the state homes that were sold off, made moves to improve the Residential Tenancies Act for tenants.
However the new National Government under John Key started a sell off of state housing and Housing New Zealand was downsized to become a property management company with the Ministry of Social Development providing tenants,it is a system that has not worked out for the increasing number of people looking for affordable housing.The fact that the government is having to use motels to put homeless families is a sign of a system in serious trouble,there is an election soon so lets hope that there is a change in housing policy.It is time for central government to stand up for the weak and put the power of government at the service of those seeking affordable accommodation.It is time to reflect on the good that government can do,make sure you vote and vote for change.
August 29th 2017
The Manawatu Tenants Union has been busy working with tenants on the issue of insulation in rental properties.In one case we have been assisting a tenant who rents in Himatangi. She is seriously ill with cancer and wants to live by the sea.She signed a tenancy under the belief that it was going to be long term,she was asked to use her Community Services Card to insulate,she felt under pressure to do this,but she thought it was a long term rental.Once the house was insulated she was given a 90 day notice to vacate by the owner and a property manager from Property Brokers [Foxton ].The tenant used her Community Services Card in good faith,that her home would be warmer and that she had a secure tenancy.She has taken the matter to the Tenancy Tribunal and had her say,the Tribunal ran over time and we are heading back on Oct.3rd to hear what the other party has to say.The house was in appalling condition with rats and other problems which they claim is not true.Will keep you posted when the tenant gets a result.
Another property ,this time in Palmerston North,where the tenant was given 7 days to vacate,after he handed his Community Service Card details to the landlords.He had a Fixed-Term -Tenancy which had sometime to run.He had someone staying in his room which was not allowed so they give him 7 days to get out,no 14 day notice to sort out the breach.The landlords are going to take him to the Tenancy Tribunal over the issue.It's a room by room let which is not in tenants best interests,the other tenants seen to be overseas students with no knowledge of the rights and obligations,they are being taken advantage off,by the landlord's.
We wrote to the Minister and hope to have a word with her when she visits the city on Thursday about bringing some balance into this issue where tenants are not made homeless after agreeing to their Community Services Card being used by their landlord.
August 18th 2017
Another issue I forgot to mention yesterday in reviewing The Residential Tenancies Act is the need for landlords to put on the tenancy agreement that the property has insulation.Out of interest New Zealand has the coldest housing in the western world and has had this statistic for sometime
The sheer scale of the housing crisis is now starting to hit home to our politicians as the election draws closer,in some ways it highlights just how out of touch government members are with the realities of the crisis.
They have not been paying attention for quite sometime.
August 17th.2017
The Residential Tenancies Act needs to change to reflect the new realities of renting in New Zealand to-day.Generation Rent is with us and will be continue to be a strong presence being felt every where around the country as the housing crisis continues unabated.
One area of concern is when a tenant dies, the remaining tenant may be evicted on the grounds that they never signed the tenancy agreement,even if they were married and had shared the home for years.The same situation applies if a partner dies,its a draconian law that needs to go,on humanitarian grounds,its just not fair to the remaining tenant.
Pets are another issue that has become an issue for long term tenants,both HNZ and Private Landlords have strict policies towards tenants pets,it is a no go area for the vast majority of tenants.A bond could be charged to the the tenant to cover any damage to the property and be refunded back when the tenancy is ended and is left in a reasonable condition.It is a simple solution for all concerned,pets have been acknowledged as good for tenants physical and mental well being.We would encourage all landlords to consider the benefits to their tenants of such a clause in their tenancy agreements.Local Authorities could set the benchmark with their housing portfolio by allowing tenants to have a pet,it should be noted that this policy could be done on a case by case basis.It should that the majority of tenants don't have pets.
The relationship between tenant and pr tooperty managers would be improved,if all property managers were licensed and had a code of practice.At present anyone can operate as a property manager without any qualifications what so ever,and they have real power and control over tenants lives and can evict them without any reason.The law needs some balance for both parties,not just property managers.
All landlords should be required to have their properties tested for P before a tenant moves in and it should be written into the tenancy agreement,so tenants know that the property is safe to occupy for them and their families.
There is a real need for these suggested changes to be reviewed as New Zealand has started to develop a rental culture and this culture,is the future for an up and coming generation of New Zealanders.
August 14th 2017.
Very interesting e/mail Dr. Elinor Chisholm,on should landlords to a bond to cover maintenance costs.
The Manawatu Tenants Union has always held the view that landlords should have a contingency fund to cover unexpected maintenance costs,it is good practice.
Many landlords are slow to make repairs,for their tenants,it usually ends up in the Tenancy Tribunal,for a work order to have the repairs done.In the present rental climate,,tenants take what housing they can afford even if the property is in poor condition. Tenants should always take photos with their phone and save them as it may be needed when proof is required about property damage that was there when they moved in.
Jennifer Duke,has come up with a solution to fix this issue with a mandatory sum of money provided by landlords as "sinking fund" for maintenance or a bond paid by the investor.
Property managers would have the ability to tap into this fund as needed to fix reasonable repairs,without being delayed by the landlord.this would see maintenance done in a timely manner. New Zealand now has a renting culture and rights for tenants have to improve, for all involved in the supporting the cornerstone of family life decent housing.
August 10th 2017
Some more information on the housing crisis griping the country at present.
This information comes from Child Poverty Action Group,and the latest Household Income Report.It states that families are suffering under the strain of housing costs,with half of all accommodation supplement recipients spending half of their incomes on rental costs.Seven per cent of all children [75,000] living in homes that experience issues with dampness and mould,and are hard to keep warm.
The statements also supports a newly elected government to introduce policies to increase the supply of state houses,and introduce a system of regulating conditions for all rental housing.Something that The Manawatu Tenants Union has been pushing for since 1996 a warrant of fitness so that housing is fit for purpose,it will happen one day as New Zealand now has a culture of renting whither the government likes it or not.
The work for housing improvements has just begun as there will be generations who will always rent their homes,we have to improve tenants rights and obligations for all concerned in the wider community.
Support the political party that supports these ideals and give them your vote ,your vote is a powerful weapon in the fight for a better society for all New Zealanders.
August 9th 2017
Scoop media and Public Engagement Projects have published a report concerning what New Zealanders think about affordable housing. As we know the debate concerning housing affordability is dominated by comments from politicians and the media,ordinary citizens have had very few avenues to express an opinion on housing affordability until now.
A large number of the participants agreed on a range of other aspects of the affordable housing market.There were some who believed that the free market approach would deliver affordable housing,it should be noted that the free market has never delivered affordable rents ,full stop.
Here is a snapshot of the areas of agreement.
85% believe that central government has a responsibility for building and owning a large portfolio of houses.
73% supported a role for Maori and community groups to provide affordable,emergency housing along with social housing.
91% agreed that greater provision is needed for emergency housing and more social housing, not just a push to highlight home ownership which is never going to happen for the majority of citizens who have been forced to become lifetime renters.
87% of participants do not believe that a $500.000 house is an affordable home.
Participants in the survey included a wide range of people some were home owners,renters and property investors.They said that to solve the housing crisis requires leadership and long term commitment to solutions along with a non-partisan political agreement to house New Zealanders today and into the future.A political will is required from all parties to do the job.
Tenants have the power to start the first steps in rebuilding a broken housing system by making your vote count to restore fairness for all who call New Zealand home.
August 8th Homeless report.
In the upcoming Census 2018 for the first time,everyone will be asked,if their homes are damp and moldy.It will be interesting to see what measures they use to define damp and moldy?
In another survey from Al jazeera [TV] they highlighted the serious housing crisis in New Zealand today.Once upon a time,New Zealand lead the developed world and was a pioneer in providing decent affordable housing for its people [Housing New Zealand].State housing was a platform for assisting with first home ownership through a number of state grants [State Advances --Housing Corp. loans--Capitalization of benefits ] they provided New Zealand with the highest home ownership rates in the developed world at the time.The grants were wiped with the stroke of a pen by then National Minister of Housing John Luxton.
The survey stated just how far the government has failed to deliver decent affordable housing to its people,they have a lot to answer for.The National led governments have a belief that the free market is best placed to deliver rental housing,this belief is embedded into their soul.The fact as can be seen today,is that the market has failed to deliver for so many working and low income New Zealanders,who are now the majority of renters in the country.
The housing crisis created by the government is a disgrace,The homelessness being experienced by many families is not going to go away anytime soon.
If things are to change for the common good,make sure you vote in the up coming general election,make a change for your children and grandchildren so they can have the opportunity to live in decent affordable housing.
Your vote and every ones vote is important for change to happen,stand up for what you believe in and what's right for your community,make sure you vote,OK its that important.
July 24th 2017
Interesting to read in the newspapers,what many already know,that new research indicates New Zealand has some of the worst rates of homelessness in the developed world.
The legacy of the John Key government has just carried on. Bill English and Paula Bennett were the ministers in charge of all Social and Housing New Zealand housing and bear a lot of the responsibly for the crisis that housing has become.They are seen as mean and compassionless with scant regard for the poor and ordinary New Zealanders,looking for affordable accommodation.Many tenants feel angry and abandoned,as they have been made homeless and having to live in motels where conditions apply as well as cars and the streets.
Here in Palmerston North the Royal Hotel has closed down which makes a bad situation worse for those seeking accommodation.With an election only a matter of weeks away,use your vote to change the government as we need affordable housing now. There is no political mileage in tax cuts they have never delivered for the poor ever.So for the sake of your children and your grandchildren vote for more housing that is affordable.
If You Are Not Outraged You Are Not Paying Attention
With the general election just a matter of weeks away,the new incoming government will have to widen its scope,to overcome the present housing crisis being felt by an increasing number of New Zealander's.The crisis has impoverished many people through being made homeless, the main cause is the lack of affordable housing to rent,and high rental costs.In New Zealand we have have witnessing the end of the state involvement in the provision of state housing and the reintroduction of housing poverty for increasing numbers of tenants.
So make you are enrolled to vote and that you use your vote its your most powerful weapon use it,to give the government the message that the housing situation at present is not acceptable. Your vote counts as tenants,now have the power to change things,remember that and pass it on to your friends and family.
THE UK ELECTION OUTCOMES CONCERNING HOUSING 2017.
Tory MP's [ National Party in NZ.] have been evicted from their seats for not taking housing seriously.Theresa May [PM] misjudged the public,her manifesto had more page numbers than spending figures,nothing on the housing crisis in the UK.
Young people rallied around the Labour Party in droves as they had addressed the housing crisis,while the media,had nothing but criticism and scorn for the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn. Social media and Corbyn's rallies made people feel that they could be part of something bigger,a better future future for the generations to come a fairer society.
It is the young people who feel the effects of austerity more keenly than most,due to rising costs,exorbitant rents and many living in poor housing,problems that are an everyday fact of life for increasing numbers of New Zealanders.The sheer numbers of MP's who are landlords is astounding,which begs the question who do they represent at the end of the day.
In the coming weeks,we have a general election here in NZ.The number of renters in NZ is significant,more renters than home owners in fact.After years of being ignored,abused and taken for granted,they now have the power to change the government.Housing in NZ is in crisis, government policies have failed completely to deliver affordable housing for those seeking accommodation,homelessness is now a fact of life.
Housing New Zealand has been downsized and continues to be sold off to the private sector, this has been a disaster for low income families who are now living in motels and emergency accommodation.Along with the media who go out of their way to stigmatize state housing and their tenants just add's to the crisis.It should be noted that the [PM ] Bill English and his deputy Paula Bennett were the ministers in charge of Housing New Zealand and social housing for some years and must bear some responsibly for the chaos that is facing housing in NZ today.
So make sure you use your power and vote in the up coming election if you want to see change in the housing system for you and your children and grandchildren,it is that important.
Great to read that the Palmerston North City Council intends to increase its pensioner housing by the construction of another 30 units,starting next year,lets hope it happens as they will be needed.So good on the Palmerston North City Council for leading the way forward in setting standards for house building.
Down the road in Levin it is a very different story,the Horowhenua District Council have sold their pensioner housing to The Sisters of Compassion and an investment firm,Willis Bond.The good sisters and an investment is a strange mix,investment firms are profit driven not community driven.
It will be interesting to follow the outcome of this sale,lets trust that the tenants will still be able to stay in their homes and that the rents remain stable and affordable.
It is plain to see that the local councillors understand and retain almost nothing on the impact their decision to sell has on the elderly and low income tenants.The infighting at the council table has to stop, all it has created is a culture of not paying attention to their most vunerable residents,who require councillors with conviction not ego's.
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June 26th 2017
It is the AGM of the Manawatu Tenants Union on Friday 30th of this month at 12.00, Community House King Street Palmerston North,everyone is welcome to attend.
The housing crisis has been the big story this year and will be the the big issue in the September election,so make sure you vote.
Politicians ,for the most part have failed to address the big issue of housing,the lack of state houses,affordable rents in the private sector which controls the rental housing market in this country. Homelessness is now a fact of life and should not happen in a country like New Zealand we just have to build more state housing as future generations will not forgive us,their start in live will be much worse than the start we had.If nothing else think of your children and grandchildren who deserve better than what is being offered at present,homelessness.
There is a real sense of social injustice in the wider community that central government policies have failed to meet peoples housing needs. The fact that at present motels are being used and in some areas bought to house tenants tells us,that there is something really wrong with the present housing policies. It should be noted that very many politicians are private landlords and are out of touch with the daily grind of their tenants,some are really out of touch with the lives of average New Zealanders.
Don't forget the AGM this Friday at 12.00 come along and be informed about the real housing story.
May 22nd 2017
Now that there are more people renting than ever before,due to families being locked out of the first home ownership market.The culture of renting is now embedded into New Zealand society due to the failures of the present government.
The cost of renting is now consuming a larger slice of tenants incomes,here in Palmerston North an average house will set you back $3,500 just to secure a house/flat housing costs are a serious problem for an increasing number of tenants,as demand outstrips supply.
One answer to this issue would be to abolish letting fees being charged by property management agencies [one weeks rent +GST ] that tenants have to pay to secure a property.Landlords should pay this fee not the tenant,as is the case in other developed countries including the UK.
Rents are already out of control with landlords increasing their property wealth at the expense of struggling tenants,the new underclass in New Zealand.
Another issue which has been on the back burner for sometime and is seen as a no-go area for central governments is the case of unclaimed bond money.The MTU has over the years,stated that some of the unclaimed bond money could assist tenants organisations to a degree,some money should be spent on education informing tenants on their rights and obligations through TV and social media outlets.Print media is a waste of time and money,TV adverts,short and sharp are a much more effective way to connect with tenants.
Housing poverty is no longer concerned with unanswered need ,it is measured against unattainable wealth.At present the housing poor have become more isolated than ever,we pass this isolation down on their children.
Interesting to read that some landlords are pushing the idea of charging a late payment fee for their tenants who fall behind behind paying their rent on time. At present landlords can issue a 14 day notice [most landlords issue these notices ] to catch up,they have the option of going to the tenancy tribunal if their tenants fall 21 days behind seeking their eviction.Mortgage repayments are not the concern of tenants landlords should budget for such contingencies,they are running a business not a community service.
April 24th 2017. Solution's to the housing crisis.
In Ireland the government has put in place a scheme where the state pay's for refurbishment of private rental accommodation if it is allocated to social housing.The government has provided 500,000 euro's [1 million dollars ] to ensure neglected private sector properties are brought on stream for social housing,under a series of initatives.
Local council's have slashed their own vacant stock rates from 3% to under 1% under the scheme.In New Zealand council housing is less than 2% of all rental housing because under the Bolger National government they were encouraged to sell council housing and many council's did just that.Another policy being used is for the government to make available $100 million to local council's to purchase derelict properties and convert them to social housing,these idea's could could work here in New Zealand in reducing our homeless problem.All it takes is the political will.
Chickens come home to roost. April 24th 2017
The government is paying the price for its failed housing policies.The down sizing of Housing New Zealand along with the demolition and sell off state housing,has lead to the housing crisis that is the new normal in New Zealand,homelessness.
The present government's belief in market force's has seen homelessness on a scale not seen since the 1930's.But the government still refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem.This despite the fact that they have had to pump million's of taxpayer's dollar's into emergency housing measure's,which include the buying of motels and moving families around the country in search of accommodation.
This is the legacy of the John Key government,it should be noted that the present Prime Minister Bill English along with Paula Bennett were the minister's responsible in pushing forward the policies that have lead to the housing crisis.
A significant state house building programme is needed now,to address the problems being faced by families seeking a place to call home.Homelessness has become the big issue which has to be addressed by an incoming government,it is time for leadership on this issue.Housing is the most basic of human rights,it is the cornerstone of family life and an issue that we can not take for granted any longer. Make sure you vote in the general election coming up and let your voice be heard,it's that serious an issue.
April 12th. 2017
Have you noticed that the Manawatu Standard has ceased to publish its letters to the editor column and this virus has spread to the community papers.
If publishers and editors exert them selves to keep certain topics out of print,it is not because they are frightened of prosecution,but because they are frightened of public opinion.This would seem to be true of rental housing matters,tenants just like housing are used to being ignored by the local media. Why is this? The media just like central government they are no longer the people we go to for inquiry or investigation into the housing crisis.
There is a housing crisis in New Zealand,and as we enter winter,we can see why the government has moved into the property market by its intention to purchase motels for the growing number of homeless,which is a wise and good move.
This is another testament to the failure of governments housing policies,There has to be new thinking on how we are able to house struggling tenants.Try something new like start a state house building programme.
April 10th 2017.
The need for a national strategy and reasserting the role of the state as the final guarantor of social cohesion has arrived.Large sections of the population are left to live on the poverty line and growing number's are facing homelessness,many without any prospect of finding a productive place in our society.
There is a wide- spread loss of faith in the power of government to help change things around.Finding affordable rental housing is not easy,tenants are never secure,subject to the whims of landlords and rising rents, as well as the lack of security of tenure.
Government housing policies has boosted demand but not supply and has lead to the homelessness that has taken root in today's New Zealand.There are not enough state houses,private rental's are to expensive for many tenants who live on fixed incomes.Present housing policies have failed to deliver affordable for the growing number of tenant's.
The time has arrived for a review of these failed policies,so that tenants have a glimpse of a better life for their children and grandchildren.New Zealander's need a central government that guarantees everyone has a state in the country and a place to call home.Make sure you use your vote to help secure a better future for everyone.
April 7th 2017.
Why did the government allow our social housing,to go so badly wrong and what are they doing to fix it?
To date 2500 state houses are empty and more than 500 have been vacant over the last year,there are 5000 families on the HNZ waiting list.Here in Palmerston North the number of homeless families and single people has increased along with the number of homeless people living in motel accommodation around the city.
Housing New Zealand,along with Palmerston North City Council along with other housing providers have closed their doors as they don't have any accommodation to help those seeking rental accommodation.
Until the government makes serious changes to it's flawed housing policies,we will continue to see increasing homelessness people here in the city.Central government would seem to be only concerned about Auckland and has little time for the rest of the country.
Pre-Fab housing is one answer ,while construction starts on building more needed state houses which is urgently required for the future of generations to come who will never be in the position to buy their first home.Th e housing crisis is real and growing,the government has to address this problem.Homelessness is just not acceptable in a 21st country which can do something to house its people,we are a rich country.
We have to cure the sickness of an economy run by the few for the few,that has left the many behind when it comes to finding affordable rental accommodation.One way of getting government to listen to the real issues affecting more and more people is to make sure you use your vote in the General Election later this year,your vote is a powerful weapon use it.
April 3rd. 2017
The Manawatu Tenants Union has been busy in the last number of weeks dealing with the number of homeless families,around the City of Palmerston North.
At the moment we are trying to keep a family in their state home,they were given a review of their circumstances,and were informed that they could and should get a house in the private sector.The family consists of the mother her daughter and son,plus their children[primary school children].I went with the mother to MSD to engage about a review of the review but were told that the purpose of the visit was to try to get onto the HNZ waiting,possibly 2/3 homes required for the family who wish to remain under the same roof.
The main problem is that HNZ along with PNCC have long waiting lists as do Manawatu Community Housing Trust and it must be said the private sector, motel accommodation is also being used to try to cover the shortage of affordable housing. The Manawatu Tenants Union is at a loss to try and understand why should a family be made homeless when there is a serious lack of affordable housing for them to move into.
We have written to the Prime Minister to keep him up with the play on the short comings of this policy which would be seen as reasonable if there were a number of affordable houses around,but the fact is there are none.I have contacted the Manawatu Standard to talk to the tenants on the very real posssibly of being put out onto the street,so far there has been no interest from the paper.
The Prime Minster's statement hits home just how out of touch he and his party are on rental housing issues,he says that they are a success and not a crisis.He would say that he has been one of the three ministers responsible for the housing portfolio,its a mess,lets be honest its a real mess.
The present Government has to widen its scope to overcome the housing crisis that they have created.They should move over and leave it to a new incoming government,which will treat housing as a serious issue for the struggling families trying to find affordable decent rental accommodation.New Zealand had a reasonable housing stock at one time which supported families in trouble.But with the move to free market rents tenants have paid the price for failed policies,with more homelessness now than there has been in living memory.
Homelessness has become the new normal for an increasing number of tenants,unable to pay the high rents being demanded by landlord's.This is an election year and housing will be at the top of the political agenda.Tenants have the power to change things they are in the ascendancy,and their vote can change things in the housing area, so make sure you vote and make it count.
Prefabrication Holmes February 28th.
In the housing arena,the Government has taken something that is simple and straight forward and made it complex and difficult.All Governments of late have failed to increase the number of state houses available to low income families.The number of state houses have disappeared, they represent 13% of the rental housing market,private landlords control the other 87%of the market.
The disestablishment of the New Zealand Housing Commission,is one of the many reasons that governments have created the present housing crisis.The Commission produced good information and advice to the government of the day on what was needed for the future on housing ,Rodger Douglas thought other wise,and disestablished the Commission.
The shortage of affordable rental housing has brought back the idea of prefabrication homes,made in factories and erected on site.The Palmerston North Teachers College was once a transit camp with '' prefab housing '' tenants lived there while the government was building State Housing around the city.The image of ''prefabs'' has been stigmatized by the media,they are seen as clones of one another, the same could be said of private housing in more up market neighbourhoods.Yet there are a number of groups who have produced interesting houses at low cost,but local councils and central government have shown little interest as they only seem interested in home ownership,despite the fact that home ownership is not going to happen for the majority of New Zealanders.Renters are the future and will be for some time to come,it will take years to sort out of the mess we are in with affordable housing,we need a government with a commitment to public housing.
Property Managers
Here in New Zealand,property managers are not licensed and are not answerable to anyone.At present,anyone can start up a property management company,take letting fees and pick up rents without having to prove they know anything about what they are doing.There have been attempts to set professional standards for property managers over the years,but nothing has changed.
It is now time for change,as renters are in the ascendancy in New Zealand.The property management sector needs to set standards and ethics for their unregulated sector.In 2008 the Justice and Electoral select committee recommended "Immediate action should be taken to create an appropriate regulatory regime for property management actives."but the associate minister of justice at the time ,Nathan Guy,said additional regulation wasn't justified.
It should be noted that property managers have keys to your home,collect rents every week and require tenants to consent to credit checks.This gives them the ability to trawl through a tenants history and other personal information.In fact property managers and private landlords maintain power and control over tenants and many operate a "blacklist" so that some tenants have difficult time seeking a reference.
This is not the case in Australia where property managers have to meet minimum qualification requirements.But in New Zealand property managers want to know everything about their tenants,yet tenants no nothing about the character of their property manager/landlord,It is not a big ask to know ,you are dealing with a reputable person, change is needed now to redress this imbalance.
January 24th
The Manawatu Tenants Union,welcomes students back to Palmerston North and trusts you enjoy the city and its residents.
This is the time the rental housing market is set to kick off.The costs of finding a flat/house can be considerable,around $2,300 +just to move into an average three bed roomed house.Rental accommodation is the only option for most New Zealand families.Waiting lists continue to grow for affordable state housing and council housing.The cost to the taxpayer is soaring,through the accommodation supplement,paid to landlords.Rents have increased by 5.6% in the Manawatu in the last year,while incomes have not risen to meet the increased rents being demanded by landlords.
Now is a good time to look at how some of the costs being placed on tenants can be reduced.Landlords are running a business and should pay all the costs of running a business.Letting fees [ 1 weeks rent +GST ] should be banned ,as they are in the UK. This a cost that landlords should meet, not tenants,this would see more money being spent in the community.As house prices rise year by year,landlords have good reason to be grateful to their tenants as their rents ultimately contribute to line the pockets of landlords.
Lets hope our government takes a page out of the book the Conservative government in the UK and assist renters and not just home owners.This change will happen,as there are more renters than home owners and the they are voters.
January 18th.2017
On housing issues the government has boosted demand but not supply,it is very hard to detect what the government thinks a good housing policy looks like.The National Party is seen as the party of home ownership,but it has failed to revive home ownership for New Zealanders.At the same time waiting lists for state housing and council housing continue to get longer,while the cost of the accommodation supplement is soaring along with private market rents.It should be noted that rents have risen by 5.6% in the last year while wages have not risen to meet the increased rents being demanded by landlords.
The National government under Jim Bolger was ideologically opposed to state/council housing and sold 13,500 state houses to private landlords at fire sale prices.It was a disaster,we are now reaping the price of that bad policy with the present housing crisis and the inequality it has produced.The Key/English administrations have just carried on with the 1990's policy which is seen as a failure.It is seen as the legacy of the Bolger/Key governments,one that increased homelessness and inequality in a country that once prided itself on being an egalitarian society
It is an election year,so make sure you vote,so as your children and grandchildren have a better start in life than what you had,we owe them that.
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