Tremain Chris: Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Tremain Chris: Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
: 
 I will take just a brief call as we go forward with the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill this evening. It is great to be able to welcome the Minister of Housing Phil Heatley to the House tonight. He has introduced the bill into the House and it is great to see him here doing such a wonderful job with it. 
It is important that the bill sets the basis of the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. It is a good thing that we review the various parts of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 as we take it forward into a new century and consider the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. The fact is we have all been tenants at some stage of our lives. The bill is not about the rich versus the poor; it is about the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. Right now many MPs in this House continue to be tenants; they rent properties in the Greater Wellington central business district. It is important that we continue to update the legislation as time goes on; it is important legislation. 
One of the key features of the bill is that it will extend the Act’s coverage. One point which I saw briefly is that the Act will be rolled out to cover boarding houses. Some members will remember that towards the end of the previous Labour Government’s term there was a significant issue about the way in which the landlords of boarding houses were treating their tenants. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: That’s why we put them in the bill. 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: It is good to see Maryan Street who was the Minister of Housing at that time in the House tonight and good to hear that she brought that matter into the legislation at that point in time. It is very important that we consider the relationship between boarding-house owners and their tenants. While I am talking about the previous Minister I must say that she brought into a previous bill an item regarding the tenant’s requirement— 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Liability! 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: Liability for damage. It got defeated in the House if I recall correctly. It is one measure that I do not see going forward in any sort of legislation. It is irresponsible for us to take away the liability of a tenant for damage caused while that person is the tenant. It is irresponsible and it takes away the responsibility of the relationship. When one takes on the tenancy of a property one is responsible for that property. If a tenant holds a party and someone comes along as a guest—or even not as a guest—and kicks a hole in the door then I am sorry but the tenant is responsible. As I see it it will remain that way. That is a small point I wanted to make. 
There is a range of changes in the bill. They extend the Act’s coverage as I have mentioned. They clarify the responsibility for outgoings so that it is clear who is responsible for rates electricity charges and those sorts of expenses. We are clarifying the status of body corporate rules and providing remedies should they change during the course of a tenancy. We are introducing new processes for terminating and renewing tenancies. I think it is extremely important to know how they will work within the contract. 
We are encouraging landlords and tenants to comply with their obligations. At the end of the day that is the important thing. The reality is that by far the majority of tenancies in this country work extremely well. There is a strong relationship between the landlord and the tenant. In fact it is in the landlord’s interest for the tenant to remain there and to continue to pay the rent. It is in the landlord’s interest to keep the tenant happy. That has been my experience and I believe that that is the way that the legislation will be implemented as we go forward. I recommend the bill to the House. It is good legislation. 
Bill read a first time.