Hi There.

                The Manawatu Tenants Union has spent a bit of time in Whanganui delivering seminars to Balance Health Promotion in the Community House.It was a well attended meeting and the 20 odd students seemed to enjoy the meeting and asked questions.I just covered the history of the MTU and went over the residential tenancies act for the students I just covered the basics which was all they were interested in,stuff they needed to know when in discussions with their landlord/agent.

                 We have become aware of a Housing Trust in the city,which is causing a lot of problems for its residents.The trust has employed a new manager who seems to be on a mission to convert the residents to his church according to what we have been told.They are given 28 days under the law to move into another Trust House which they are entitled to do.The issues for the move is that there has been damage done to the properties owned by the Trust,this has been put down to drinking of beer and smoking of drugs,there is a dispute as to who is to blame.The residents we spoke with said that in some cases they were out of town when the inspections took place.We  have, along with other agencies spoken to the the manager but nothing has come of it,he insists that they have to move,its a stalemate at present,its a shame as no one wins.We will continue to monitor the Trust and their activities,we have contact with some of those affected by the change in direction of the Trust.

Welcome to 2016.Lets hope that things improve for tenants in New Zealand and that they find decent and affordable housing.So far it would seem that that will not happen as Auckland landlords are set to increase their rents to average $500 per week.Auckland sets the rental market prices so we can expect the rest of the country to face large increases in rents.Taxpayers will pay more in subsidies to private landlords,the $1.3 BILLION paid at present will only increase substantially in the coming months.The New Zealand taxpayer is entitled to know that their contribution to housing,is supporting decent affordable housing that is fit for purpose,this is where a Warrant of Fitness would provide evidence that taxpayers were getting value for their contribution to private landlords.It could also act as a reference for the landlord that the tenants were dealing with a professional landlord who respected their right to decent,affordable rental accommodation. These ideals in the rental market will happen at some future date,it is up to tenants to insist that they get value for their rent money.

Hi There.

Now that the year is coming to a close,and Xmas is upon us,we are reminded of the plight of Mary and Joseph who were denied shelter in Bethlehem.Unfortunately housing exclusion is a trend that happens in Palmerston North,now women with children are turned away,because of the number of children,from private landlords and accommodation agencies.

 The MTU has spoken with a number of these women and sighted their references and they have the ability to pay their rent on time.They have been good tenants,so it would seem that they are refused housing because they have large families.

Housing New Zealand which once upon a time provided affordable housing to those families in serious need has been downsized to a shadow of its former self.The affordable rental housing market is critical to any community.The present hard line housing policies being practiced by landlords along with the loss of state housing,is punishing the poor and their children.

In 2016 lets hope that rental housing gets the same attention as home ownership gets from central government.

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.

HOUSING CRISIS

Solving the housing crisis is critical to removing poverty in New Zealand.The lack of affordable rental housing and its impact on health and inequality is creating a time bomb,as the country faces its biggest housing crisis since the 1990s.

Benefit cuts have had the effect of social cleansing.The accommodation Supplement is capped therefore tenants struggle to meet their rental obligations.The Manawatu Tenants Union is in contact with politicians and landlords and is surprised to find that these groups have little contact or knowledge of the issues facing average tenants.Landlords are not involved in tackling poverty,on the other side of the coin state housing and council officers are keen to assist in reducing poverty.

Present housing policies are not the answer to the crisis.Developing new state housing will go some way to help New Zealanders into rental housing that they can afford.Selling off state houses to private landlords is not the way to go,it is the main factor that created the housing crisis that the country faces today.It is an idea that failed and only made the poor,poorer.We need leadership not a return to a bleak past.