Submissions

To: Social Services and Community Committee
Date: July 2024

Purpose

This submission on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill’s primary purpose is to oppose this legislation.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA argues that the Bill will increase insecurity for renters and disproportionately impact disabled people by reintroducing no-cause evictions, shortening notice periods, and allowing pet bonds, thereby undermining previous reforms that provided greater protections.

DPA highlights that disabled people are more likely to rent than non-disabled people (38% vs 30%), often for long periods or for life, due to lower incomes and higher living costs associated with disability. There is a chronic and ongoing shortage of accessible rental properties, along with discrimination from landlords and property managers, making it challenging for disabled people to find suitable private rental homes.

DPA is concerned that the reintroduction of 90-day and 42-day no-cause tenancy terminations will seriously and adversely affect disabled people, especially as it takes significantly more time for disabled individuals to find new accessible rentals (90 days longer for social housing).

DPA also points out additional adverse impacts, including the mental distress caused by having to find accessible housing, the extra costs for moving and packing, and private landlords' advertising practices that exclude disabled people on benefits. The Bill would exacerbate the inequitable power imbalance favouring landlords, potentially discouraging disabled people in poor housing from raising concerns for fear of eviction or rent increases. Census 2018 for both existing and future rental tenants** in terms of bringing back no-cause evictions, shortens tenancy termination notice periods and brings in the charging of pet bonds all of which will disproportionately impact disabled people in rental properties. 

DPA opposes the charging of pet bonds by landlords as they are discriminatory for disabled people who may rely on a pet for their wellbeing.

Key Recommendation:

DPA opposes this legislation and recommends that the Bill be withdrawn. DPA previously supported the residential tenancies reforms made in 2018 and 2022, which this Bill seeks to overturn, as they afforded greater security and longer notification periods to disabled tenants.

Supporting Statement 1:

Statistics New Zealand figures show that 38% of disabled people rent compared to 30% of non-disabled people, and many disabled people rent for long periods or for life due to chronic shortages of accessible properties and discrimination.

Supporting Statement 2:

According to Ministry of Social Development data from 2023, it takes on average 90 days longer for a disabled person to be housed in accessible social housing compared to non-disabled people.