7. Question No. 7—Housing (Public Housing)TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 7—Housing (Public Housing)7. TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): What recent announcements has she made regarding the regulation of property managers?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): This Government is following through on its manifesto commitment to regulate residential property managers and provide greater security and certainty for both landlords and tenants. That's why today I announced the Government's detailed proposals to achieve this important piece of work. New Zealand is one of the few countries in the OECD that has an unregulated property management industry which makes it difficult to calculate how many property managers currently operate in the market. Officials estimate there are between 2000 and 7000 property managers across the country. While many abide by appropriate professional standards the sector as a whole is not required to meet minimum practice standards. These proposals will change that. The detailed proposals announced today are now open for public feedback until 19 April and I would encourage everyone to have their say.Chlöe Swarbrick: Why did the Government decide to limit regulation of the rental market operators to just property managers when they manage a minority of rental properties compared to landlords as outlined in that discussion document?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Property managers manage about 42 percent of the market. Currently private landlords are covered by regulation within the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA); property managers are not.Rachel Boyack: What are the proposals included in today's announcement?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The proposed changes included in the discussion document released today are designed to promote public confidence in the delivery of residential property management services. This will be achieved by establishing professional entry standards embedding a code of conduct and providing accountability through an independent and transparent disciplinary and complaints resolution process. These changes will provide more certainty to the nearly one-third of New Zealand households who currently rent.Rachel Boyack: What will these changes mean for landlords and renters?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As the residential property market has grown so too has the role of property managers within it. Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment bond data suggests that property managers are responsible for managing around 42 percent of all rental properties. That's why there's a strong interest for both landlords and tenants to have confidence in the service provided by property managers. These changes will provide more security and certainty to both landlords and tenants by putting in place a regulatory system that will provide property managers with more guidance as well as a robust process for tenants to raise their concerns.Chlöe Swarbrick: Point of order Mr Speaker. Just with regard to my question earlier as outlined in the proposed discussion document from the Government and to the Minister's answer about landlords being covered by the RTA property managers not—this goes substantially further with regard to education and also the requirement of professional entry requirements.SPEAKER: So I'm not sure what the member's point of order is.Chlöe Swarbrick: That the Minister did not answer the question.SPEAKER: Well the Minister is not required to answer the question. The Minister addressed the question and the other point which I think the member should know now is that we don't wind back the clock. Once we've moved on to—and I think we've had two further supplementary questions after that. You don't at that point decide that there's a point of order; not that there was one anyway. [Interruption] Can I just say that commentary on Speaker's rulings—I don't know which of the two members are being particularly noisy the young men at the back—Hon Member: Oh me? You're talking about me?SPEAKER: It was this time—but just if they could cut the commentary on Speaker's rulings that would be helpful.