“Manawatū Tenants Support Campaign to Fix Renting”

Date: 11/7/2018 6:00pm
From: Manawatū Tenants’ Union (MTU)

Rising rents, substandard housing, and insecure tenancies are the reality for growing numbers of renters. Proposing common sense change to renting laws, the Manawatū Tenants’ Union is involved in a national campaign launched today to fix renting alongside other community organisations.

MTU Coordinator Kevin Reilly describes how “The Manawatū Tenants’ Union has seen an unprecedented increase in tenants seeking help due to housing disputes, with many made homeless.”

MTU organiser Ben Schmidt states “everyone deserves a secure, safe, and healthy home that they can afford to live in. Right now, too many renters are broke, sick, and too scared to complain in case of retaliation. The campaign to fix renting is a way forwards.”

All homes should be safe and healthy to live in. Current regulations fail to protect tenants getting sick in damp and mouldy homes. We propose that the government introduces a Warrant of Fitness by setting the He Kainga Oranga standard as the minimum for all rental homes, and fund local councils to ensure every home is inspected and compliant before it is rented out.

Renters should feel secure, and the campaign calls for increase security of tenancy. Existing 90 day no-cause evictions refuse people housing stability, and allow exploitative landlords to increase rent and threaten tenants who stand up for their rights.

Rent should be affordable, and the current national average of $475 per week is beyond the reach of many. We call for fair restrictions to rent increases that allow families to stay in housing.

Renters should receive protection of the law. We propose reform of the Tribunal to an investigative model; funding of tenancy advocacy services nationwide; and compulsory licensing and regulation of all property managers.

MTU urges other organisations and individuals to take part in the campaign to fix renting.

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