30 Jan 2014

Govt seeks to speed up disputes process

9:54 pm on 30 January 2014

The time taken to resolve more than three-quarters of tenancy disputes could be greatly reduced under a new initiative announced by the Government.

'Fast Track' allows rent disputes to be resolved with a conversation between tenants and landlords, rather than full mediation.

Housing Minister Nick Smith says this should cut the average time to reach an agreement from 12 days to two.

Dr Smith says 76 percent of the cases before the Tenancy Tribunal each year are disagreements about rent payments. He says the system will save staff thousands of hours.

The process will be launched in February and rolled out nationwide in stages.