Solving the rental shortage – new legislation and a change of attitude

Past discussions between governments, Housing New Zealand, Tenancy Services and social housing groups about rental crises have never included the federation, says NZPIF vice-president Peter Lewis. “We have ideas that can go a long way to overcoming the rental shortage.”

“What the new Government needs to do is admit there is a problem with supply in the rental market, sit down with landlords and property investors and ask for suggestions to solve it.”

Overcoming shortages, says Lewis can be as simple as “changes in legislation and a change in government attitude towards landlords who have been vilified, abused and denigrated for causing all sorts of problems in society and recognition they do provide a valuable and much needed service to society as a whole”.

The NZPIF’s view is a large contributor to the dwindling number of rental properties has been the actions of the past two governments – changing the tenancy laws and removing the 90-day no cause termination notice as well as ditching the ability for property investors to offset mortgage interest payments against rental income for tax purposes.