First National welcomes RTA Bill review

First National Real Estate describes Housing Minister Phil Heatleys comments today on possible changes to the Residential Tenancies Ammendment Bill (No 2) as commonsense prevailing.

First National manages more six thousand properties nationwide on behalf of landlords every year. First National general manager John Stewart said the balance has been in favour of the tenant for too long.

Our property managers come to the aid of landlords who are being held to ransom by irresponsible tenants and a Tenancy Tribunal system which can be slow and is often clogged.

We are in favour of tenants being protected but were horrified at changes proposed by the Bill under the previous Government, like limiting costs for damage by tenants to four weeks rent. However, it seems from the new Ministers comments today that commonsense will prevail.

Most landlords in New Zealand are ordinary salary and wage earning Kiwis whose choice to invest in property benefits the country. Residential tenancy legislation should be encouraging tenant responsibility rather than relief of responsibility.

Now this review has been signaled First National will be taking the opportunity to talk with the Minister about areas of concern raised by our members so that the enacted legislation is fair and reasonable to all parties.

Key provisions in the Bill that First National supports include:

*Introducing clearer processes for terminating and reviewing tenancies
*Encouraging landlords and tenants to comply with their obligations
*Providing for the majority of tenancy disputes to be resolved quickly, fairly and cost effectively
*Improving the enforceability of Tenancy Tribunal orders

ENDS

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