I thought the property investor community might enjoy reading my latest letter to the Editor of the Nelson Mail newspaper. It got published this evening. I was really chuffed to see it hit the prime spot of first letter and the newspaper gave it a massive heading. Comments, brickbats and similar letters to local newspapers is encouraged. Here it is.
Sir, I am really astounded at the recent comments about affordable housing in Nelson.
Last week I sat quietly through Nick Smith’s address at the Housing Forum. He blamed
increasing house prices on councils, materials, and land speculators. For the previous
few years I have heard him blame property investors. Winston Peters and others are
blaming the Chinese. Nick laments the few new houses that are being built are all
large expensive ones.
Surprise the Government policy of discouraging new investment in rental housing has
worked. They have done this by both zapping us with more taxes and relentless rhetoric.
Landlords have been scrambling to recover the extra taxes and other costs by increasing rents.
Many have found the market would not absorb any more rent increases and some have
sold to avoid losing more money. Goodness if I put animals into my flats I would be able
to depreciate the buildings because they would be a productive enterprise. But if I house
people I get penalised. My friends and I house one third of humanity. We are not bad
people we are just going about our daily work caring for people who can not afford to
house themselves.
Glenn Morris
Secretary Nelson Property Investors Association.
Sir, I am really astounded at the recent comments about affordable housing in Nelson.
Last week I sat quietly through Nick Smith’s address at the Housing Forum. He blamed
increasing house prices on councils, materials, and land speculators. For the previous
few years I have heard him blame property investors. Winston Peters and others are
blaming the Chinese. Nick laments the few new houses that are being built are all
large expensive ones.
Surprise the Government policy of discouraging new investment in rental housing has
worked. They have done this by both zapping us with more taxes and relentless rhetoric.
Landlords have been scrambling to recover the extra taxes and other costs by increasing rents.
Many have found the market would not absorb any more rent increases and some have
sold to avoid losing more money. Goodness if I put animals into my flats I would be able
to depreciate the buildings because they would be a productive enterprise. But if I house
people I get penalised. My friends and I house one third of humanity. We are not bad
people we are just going about our daily work caring for people who can not afford to
house themselves.
Glenn Morris
Secretary Nelson Property Investors Association.
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