Submission to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No. 2)

Download the Salvation Army's Submission to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No. 2) (PDF, 521KB)

The Salvation Army supports this Bill in principle. We have provided comments on the three main elements of this Bill with regards to the amendments on: tenant liability for damage to rental premises; tenancies over rental premises that are unlawful for residential use; and methamphetamine contamination in rental premises.

However, The Salvation Army believes that the proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA) do not go far enough to provide New Zealanders with secure, safe and healthy housing.

Given that more and more New Zealanders rely on renting, we have noted our concerns at the limited choice that vulnerable tenants face, which cannot be solved by tweaking rental legislation.

Our clients who are renting accommodation that is by nature unlawful and unsuitable for themselves or their families, such as garages and unsafe boarding houses, do not have choice, or alternatives. They only do so because it is the only place they can access, or afford.