Govt can support people who rent today

The Bill extends default tenancy terms, gives tenants first right of refusal when their tenancy agreement is up for renewal, limits rent increases and enforces transparency around them, and restores 90-day notice periods when landlords want to sell properties. 453,000 homes were rented by New Zealanders at the 2013 census.

“People who rent need stability so they can put down roots in their communities,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“Our home ownership rate is at the lowest level since 1951 and more than half of all Aucklanders live in rental homes, so it’s time to fix the rules to give people who rent a fair deal.

“Unstable tenancies mean kids have to move schools too often and people can’t get involved in their communities.

“Even Nick Smith and Bill English admit that now isn’t a good time for young families to buy a home in places like Auckland, so they need to accept that more families are renting for longer. We need to update the tenancy rules to reflect that.

“Mortgage agreements are transparent about when and why payments could change, so it’s only fair that tenancy agreements are too.

“Stable tenancies are good for landlords too, because the time properties are empty and not earning rent is reduced, and tenants look after properties when they know they can call them home for several years,” Mrs Turei said.

Latest Housing Announcements

Story

Enough posturing, let’s get on and build enough public housing

The Green Party is urging the Government to take its own advice and come up with a long-term plan to build thousands more public homes.
Read More

Story

Long-term commitment needed on public housing

Budget 2023’s investment in public housing falls short of what’s needed.
Read More

Story

Greens join call for immediate rent freeze after floods

The Green Party is joining more than 20 community organisations to call for an immediate rent freeze in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, after reports of ...
Read More

Story

HRC report shows need for more action on housing

The Green Party will continue pushing for change to ensure people don’t need to access emergency housing in the first place. 
Read More

Story

Healthy Homes for all means a WOF and Landlord Register

The Government’s decision to exclude landlords from property management regulations means more than half of Kiwi rentals will be left out in the co...
Read More

Story

Crown closes the door for Waimana Housing programme

The Green Party is calling out the Government for its role in Te Waimana Kaaku whānau losing their deposits and the homes they were promised.
Read More

Latest Building and Construction Announcements

Story

Let’s build better, warmer, and climate-friendly

The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party s...
Read More

Sustainable buildings and warm dry homes

Everyone has the right to a warm, dry home. Instead, housing in Aotearoa often makes us sick from damp and cold. In Aotearoa, much of our housing s...
Read More

Story

National would rather save landlords some cash than look after sick kids: Green Party

The National Party is more concerned about the back pocket of property investors than sick kids and the elderly, Green Party Co-leader Marama David...
Read More

Story

Stop charging homeless people for emergency housing

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop sending homeless people into thousands of dollars of debt with the Ministry of Social Develop...
Read More

Story

Green Party: Building code out of date and won’t ensure warm, dry homes

In response to calls for a compulsory energy rating for buildings the Green Party is renewing calls for the building code to take better account of...
Read More

Story

Green Party calling for bold steps to tackle issues in Salvation Army report

The Green Party agrees with the Salvation Army that bold new steps are needed to stop a worrying trajectory of increased rent rises and homelessnes...
Read More