11 Aug 2016

Renters' rights bill pulled from Parliament ballot

3:34 pm on 11 August 2016

Legislation that would strengthen renters' rights has been pulled from the ballot at Parliament.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei Photo: RNZ / Elliot Childs

The bill - in the name of Green party co-leader Metiria Turei - would help those who rent get stable, long-term tenancies.

Mrs Turei said more than 450,000 households rented their homes.

"They need greater security of tenure. The bill does a number of thimngs, the most important of which gets rid of the obligation to pay leasing fees by tenants, and it makes it a requirement to have the calculations for rent rises in the agreement, before the tenancy starts."

Mrs Turei said the bill would prevent rent increases from happening more than once every 12 months.

A bill that would make it easier for travellers to recover lost property was also pulled from the members' ballot.

The bill, in the name of National list MP Nuk Korako, would amend the Airport Authorities Act to improve the process of airports dealing with lost property.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs