'Property investment encouraged by bill’

Press, 31 May 1985, Page 5

'Property investment encouraged by bill’

Landlords would be encouraged to invest in the private property market with the introduction of new tenancy legislation later this year, the Minister of Housing. Mr Goff, told the Christchurch Citizens' Advice Bureau last evening. Mr Goff said that the rent freeze and the perceived hassles in dealing with tenants had deterred many landlords from investing in the private housing sector. The new legislation would provide a quick, cheap, and equitable way of resolving tenancy disputes, he said. Mr Goff said the legislation was about three-quar-ters drafted, and he expected it to be presented to the caucus in Julv.

'jThe new (residential) tenancy bill will offer to both landlord and tenant a

service to mediate and arbitrate on any dispute," Mr Goff said.

"This will replace the present situation which you can liken to the law of the jungle, in which bad tenants and bad landlords get away with far too much, and which through the news media creates stereotypes of the landlord-tenant relationship which become exaggerated and deter investor interest," he said.

Under the new legislation, a system of one-person tenancy tribunals would be set up throughout New Zealand. Mr Goff said.

Basic principles embodied in it include a tenancies fund made up of bond money hitherto paid to landlords. and a general requirement of 90 days notice to quit.

Under this system good tenants would enjoy greater security of tenure whereas irresponsible tenants could be given a swift eviction, within a matter of days if necessary, he said. "The bill will set out the respective rights and obligations of both parties." Mr Goff said. "The tribunal system will not be a panacea to eliminate all problems. It won't — that would be naive."

However. Mr Goff said that after having been to Australia recently he was convinced that the system could work. He studied similar systems in South Australia’ and Victoria. The New Zealand legislation would be similar to the Australian one. but it would not be a carbon copv.