NZ First just lost the votes of 274000 landlords when they supported the 'Bash the Landlord' bill in Parliament today.
RTA amendment bill:
- Removal of the 90-Day No (Stated) Cause Termination of a Periodic Tenancy.In cases of poor tenant behaviour, landlords would now be required to issue three separate notices within a 90-day period before engaging the Tenancy Tribunal. Unfairly, this is not the case for Kaianga Ora (Housing NZ) and social housing providers who will still be able to end a tenancy without having to give a reason.
- Tenants will be able to make minor alterations to the property without prior consent
- Expiring fixed term tenancies will automatically become Periodic Tenancy Agreements, unless both parties otherwise agreed. Tenant can unilaterally decide to stay - effectively, lifetime tenancies
- The Tenancy Tribunal to have authority to impart higher financial penalties and grant anonymity to parties absolved of actions by the Tribunal
- Rent increases limited to once every twelve months.
- Landlord fines: Currently the Tenancy Tribunal can make awards up to $50,000 against a landlord.The threshold is doubled to $100,000 and those who operate larger numbers of tenancies will face larger fines
- Assigning a property to another tenant: Landlords cannot unreasonably decline a request by tenants to assign a fixed-term tenancy.|
- Tenants' names can be removed from a Tenancy Tribunal decision.
RTA amendment bill:
- Removal of the 90-Day No (Stated) Cause Termination of a Periodic Tenancy.In cases of poor tenant behaviour, landlords would now be required to issue three separate notices within a 90-day period before engaging the Tenancy Tribunal. Unfairly, this is not the case for Kaianga Ora (Housing NZ) and social housing providers who will still be able to end a tenancy without having to give a reason.
- Tenants will be able to make minor alterations to the property without prior consent
- Expiring fixed term tenancies will automatically become Periodic Tenancy Agreements, unless both parties otherwise agreed. Tenant can unilaterally decide to stay - effectively, lifetime tenancies
- The Tenancy Tribunal to have authority to impart higher financial penalties and grant anonymity to parties absolved of actions by the Tribunal
- Rent increases limited to once every twelve months.
- Landlord fines: Currently the Tenancy Tribunal can make awards up to $50,000 against a landlord.The threshold is doubled to $100,000 and those who operate larger numbers of tenancies will face larger fines
- Assigning a property to another tenant: Landlords cannot unreasonably decline a request by tenants to assign a fixed-term tenancy.|
- Tenants' names can be removed from a Tenancy Tribunal decision.
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