Everyone deserves a safe, warm, affordable home, whether they own or rent. Better urban planning and building practices can lead to healthier communities and better environmental outcomes.

Affordable, quality housing is a right

• No one should have to pay more than 30% of their income for a decent home. Housing NZ and community housing tenants should not pay more than 25% of their income on rent.
• A capital gains tax, excluding the family home, should disincentivise speculative property investment.
• Only New Zealand citizens and permanent residents should be able to buy land.

Renting should be affordable, stable, and ensure living standards

• A warrant of fitness for rental properties should include insulation, clean heating, weather-tightness, and basic service standards (e.g. water supply).
• People who rent should enjoy security, stability and be protected from unreasonable rent increases.
• Government should support tenants’ advocacy groups.

A range of sustainable non-market and market housing solutions is needed

• Housing NZ should be resourced to build more state homes, as well as upgrade existing state homes. This should be linked to local employment and apprenticeship schemes.
• Government should enable community groups to contribute to housing supply.
• Affordable housing should be created through progressive home-ownership rent-to-buy schemes.
• Government should reduce barriers to housing developments on Maori land and insure finance is available for papakainga and other iwi and hapu-led housing developments.

We can end homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand

• Central government should work with local councils and community organisations to ensure there is enough specialist housing for people with health, mental health, or addiction issues.
• The government should regularly monitor and report on homelessness.

Better building and urban planning can help combat climate change

• Government should fund home insulation and other energy performance improvements, including solar power generation
• Government buildings should showcase sustainability and use local materials.
• The Building Code should be updated to require stronger energy efficiency and sustainability standards, encourage prefab buildings, and facilitate low-impact construction practices.