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In an open letter to politicians, the group says it wants the government to build more state and community housing and limit rent increases to inflation.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government anticipated rent increases after the freeze ended, so the Residential Leases Act was urgently updated to limit rent increases to once every 12 months.
While he did not want to comment on the group’s specific demands, he said the government made the changes with tenants in mind.
“If they see an increase, that will be the only increase on their lease that can occur in a 12-month period, and I think that’s really important.”
The changes, introduced in August, also include a 90-day ban on rental offers and terminations without cause.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw said those limits were a good start, but perhaps they hadn’t gone far enough.
“I’m appalled at some of the stories I’ve heard about raises that some of the homeowners are planning to make. If we’re going to get through this crisis, I think people should treat each other like human beings and just be a little reasonable about what’s going on here.
“Frankly, if some of the stories that we are hearing come true, then yes, we will have to consider other regulatory measures.”
The party announced today that it will work to increase the availability of community housing, including rental-to-own properties, if elected to the next government.
