17 Sep 2017

Greens pledge to extend rights of renters

4:46 pm on 17 September 2017

The Green Party want to extend the rights of renters by bringing in three-year standard tenancies and limiting rent increases to once a year.

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Photo: RNZ

It said more than half the population was now renting and people deserved the same standards as those who owned a home.

The party wants to introduce a warrant of fitness for rentals and provide insulation subsidies.

Green Party leader James Shaw said he did not believe the changes would drive up rent prices.

"There are a lot of increases that are unjustified at the moment - that are simply because we are in a very compressed market so most landlords will be able to absorb that cost.

"Most of the landlords that we have spoken to are doing these sorts of things anyway so it's not going to affect them," Mr Shaw said.

The party would also professionalise renting by requiring landlord registration and reciprocal maintenance bonds from landlords.

The Labour Party has also pledged to limit rent increases to once a year instead of the current six months.

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