October 10th.

During the last few years,problems with rent increases around New Zealand has had a serious effect on households to rent a decent and affordable home.The majority of cases before the Tenancy Tribunal are for rent arrears.

There has to be a means of ensuring affordability and security of tenure,which raises the issue of rent controls.Rent controls usually means that the rent can only increase at the rate of inflation or if the landlord has made major improvements to the property.

Rent controls can support security of tenure,a big issue in New Zealand today and contain the leavers and frequency of rent increases.

Critics of rent control and regulation claim that such measures produce inefficiencies,and reduce the housing supply and encourages lack of maintenance.In other countries like New Zealand,rent regulation has had favourable effects and benefits for both landlords and tenants,it has created a better understanding for both parties .

As more and more New Zealanders are renting and it is the future despite the words of politicians who don't seem to take that message on board.Rent controls will kick in as taxpayer's will question the subsidy paid to landlords to the tune of $3 billion every year,there are only around 380,000 private landlords in New Zealand.

This is another reason that a building programme must start sooner rather than later,at least the taxpayer will have an asset for the public good and not the private good.

October 6th.

                    It is ironic that we now hear and read about poverty from politicians in government,who supported the policies which created the poverty in the first place.

                   The National government and their support parties,think social housing should be housing of last resort,but never admit that there is not enough of it. A key role for the state is to balance market forces and promote public well being as poverty leads to decay ,the longer it persists the harder it is to get out of it.All the evidence to date shows that more and more tenants are struggling to afford a place to call home.The private rental market is the driver of poverty in New Zealand.It all points to one thing,we have to build more housing that is affordable and provides security for tenants.

               The legacy of the present government will be one of  increasing housing poverty and all its associated evils.   

Monday  3rd. October is International Tenants Day.The theme this year is on the costs of renting a home for the growing number of tenants  who have been shut out the housing market.The Manawatu Tenants Union will celebrate the day with a display on rental costs in Palmerston North,where rents are not cheap.It will set back those looking for a three bed roomed flat/house around $2,300.00 just to move in.The display will be held in the Palmerston North City Library ,so come along and join in the conversation.

MTU   September 26th.

March 9th.2016

The Manawatu Tenants Union is highlighting the need for all landlords to be licensed just like all other business operations.Under current legislation anyone can trade as a landlord without experience or knowledge of tenancy requirements.A new landlord licensing system would require all landlords to register with the local authority.Landlord registers have been set up in parts of the UK as a way of targeting rogue landlords,who rent out sub-standard properties.It would be good for tenants to know something of the kind of person their landlord was.After all landlords want to know every thing about their tenants financial/personal history etc.It would be a character reference for the tenant so as they know who they are dealing with.The licensing of all landlords would  be seen as a code of good practice for their business interests. This could be of help for overseas born landlords about both their rights and obligations as landlords and the rule of law in New Zealand concerning rental accommodation.

Hi There.

              The Manawatu Tenants Union would like to see the introduction of licensing scheme,where all landlords would need a license to rent out housing to tenants.Under current legislation anyone can rent out a property without experience or knowledge of tenancy requirements.

                A landlord should have to be licensed,and those who rent sub-standard properties should be blacklisted.       

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.