Party leader says rent freezes should be extended for at least six more months
The Opportunities Party (TOP) has called for the freeze in rent increases to be extended for at least six more months.
The government had stopped landlords from increasing rents in March as part of legislation meant to cushion the financial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, the current rent freeze ended on Friday, 25 September — causing tenant advocacy groups such as Renters United to call for an extension.
Now, TOP has joined in, saying that the government must step in to protect “vulnerable renters experiencing financial instability as a result of COVID-19.”
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According to Geoff Simmons, party leader of TOP, now is “absolutely not the time to be easing protections for renter rights.”
“We are only just seeing the economic hardship of COVID-19 starting to bite,” said Simmons. “We’ve just officially entered a recession, the GDP has contracted by a record amount, and with the wage subsidy ending, job losses are expected to rise substantially. Now is not the time to expose renters to rent increases.”
In a statement, TOP said that advisory letters were sent to representatives in the property investment industry by the Commerce Commission “following the discovery that many investors were online planning massive rent hikes following the end of the rent freeze.”
“As the six-month rent freeze comes to an end, we can expect to see many rent prices increase around the country,” said Simmons. “Renters deserve the same level of security as homeowners, who have until 31 March 2021 to lean on the mortgage holiday schemes in place. We need to extend the rent freeze for at least another six months.”
“Students and families alike are struggling through this pandemic, without any of the protections that homeowners have. We have an economy that is struggling, jobs that are being lost, and now rent increases? It’s madness. We need to extend the freeze until our economy is more stable. COVID-19 might be under control from a health perspective, but the economic impacts have only just begun.”
“TOP will change the regulations around residential tenancy law to make it far easier for tenants to remain at a property long term. Landlords will only be able to evict tenants for non-payment of rent or property damage.”
