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.
