Renters making demands of property managers

The action plan includes:

1. All rent prices permanently lowered to 25% of the lowest benefit;
2. Landlords must provide evidence they're addressing repairs, including accessibility issues, within one week of being notified by tenants;
3. Tenants in substandard housing must be appropriately relocated at landlord's expense during major repairs or renovations;
4. Minimum tenancy length five years. Tenants may exit at will;
5. A permanent end to evictions during cold weather months (May to September), holiday periods, and emergencies such as natural disasters or pandemics;
6. Abolish bond and all substitutes. Hand back all bond from landlord to tenant regardless of contract. Costs of repairing any damages will be covered by existing rent payments;
7. Pets allowed in all flats, including dogs;
8. No entering the property uninvited at all. Flat inspections abolished;
9. Landlords cannot ask prospective tenants for credit checks, employment history or any other references; and
10. Landlords must provide 365 days’ notice before selling or reoccupying the house.

To makes its point, the group will demonstrate on Thursday outside Quinovic, which has managed 100,000 properties since 1988.

The group claims Quinovic, in particular, and other property managers are continuing to profit from a crisis that has left so many New Zealanders without healthy, affordable or secure homes.