Editorial: State house damage

Such a recovery rate would be unacceptable to a private landlord. Nor should it be tolerated by Housing NZ. Its tenancy agreements state that where damage to a property is not the result of normal wear and tear, the tenant is responsible for carrying out, and meeting the cost of, repairs. Clearly that is not being policed and enforced adequately, even if, as Housing NZ says, "damage" has been reclassified to incorporate work done to bring vacated properties up to scratch.

Reversing the trend will probably require a combination of carrot and stick. Incentives for tenants to keep their properties clean and tidy could be contemplated. In all likelihood, the cost would pale alongside the escalating sum being paid to repair vandalism. As well, errant tenants must be pursued more assiduously. Heightened co-operation between Government departments would be a good starting point. There should, for example, be greater use of the sort of device that sees rent arrears captured by Work and Income paying part of a beneficiary's income directly to Housing NZ.

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