4. Question No. 4—Public HousingMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 4—Public Housing4. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does he believe the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill will create a fairer deal for people who rent; if so how?SPEAKER: The Hon Kris Faafoi—with a slight adjustment on the wording.Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): Yes. The Government is delivering a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill. We're doing this by limiting rent increases to once every 12 months and banning the solicitation of rental bids by landlords. We're also improving tenants' security by removing a landlord's ability to evict people out of their homes without giving them a valid reason. We're also giving landlords new tools to deal with antisocial behaviour and also rent arrears. Making rental properties safer and more livable is also the aspiration for the bill by letting tenants add minor fittings such as brackets to secure furniture against earthquake risk making their homes safer for their young children.Marama Davidson: Will these reforms improve housing security so that renters can put down roots in their communities?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Yes. The Government considers that every New Zealander should have a safe warm dry and secure home to call their own even if they're renting. One of the building blocks of this reform is improving the security of tenure and this means that tenants who are meeting their obligations will feel confident that they can remain in their rental homes. We have already improved housing security in State houses by exempting retirees children and people with disabilities from tenancy reviews.Marama Davidson: Will people who rent be able to make their house a home through minor changes such as putting up pictures securing furniture against earthquake risk and making the property safe for children?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Yes. As I mentioned earlier the Residential Tenancies Act changes as proposed will allow minor fittings including securing furniture protecting against earthquake risks or making properties child safe much easier for tenants. Working with their landlords the bill will allow tenants to install these minor fittings. This is limited to low-risk fittings that meet certain criteria and tenants will be required to install and remove the fittings at their own cost and return the property to a reasonable standard.Marama Davidson: How will these reforms limit rent increases?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Frequent rent increases have been found to leave tenants vulnerable to rental stress particularly low-income tenants or tenants who experience changes in their financial circumstances. This bill will limit increases to once every 12 months to give tenants more certainty over their costs but continue to allow landlords to make reasonable adjustments to rent. This reflects the balanced approach we have taken to improve the tenants' security in their own homes while recognising that there are business needs of landlords.Marama Davidson: Does he agree that there's more work to do before every New Zealander has a warm dry safe affordable home to call their own whether they rent or own?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Yes. We're doing this because over a million New Zealanders are now renting. When the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act was first introduced 26 percent of New Zealand children were in rental accommodation. The latest figures have that at 43 percent. We need to make sure that there are fundamental changes in our residential tenancies legislation to make sure that children grow up in a home that is warm dry and stable.