There is a little-known two-tier system within social housing Thousands of tenants are paying the price stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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A group of Wellington flatmates have received a nasty shock after discovering they re trapped in a lease because their landlord is biding time before getting the property up to the Healthy Home Standards. Wellington Source: 1 NEWS
By Charlie Dreaver for rnz.co.nz
The standards have now come into effect, meaning landlords need to get their property up to spec within 90 days of a new tenancy.
But renting and student advocates fear more people could become stuck in tenancies they do not want, in poor quality housing.
A Wellington renter who wishes to remain anonymous said she and other flatmates have been looking at moving out of their flat and finding replacement tenants.
But now they have hit a stalemate with the landlord and will have to stay until their agreement runs out next year. “In the past she s been totally cool with swapping people out and has actually been a great landlord, but now these new laws have come into place and she has to play ball, it s not really what she wants, and we re stuck here,” she said. RNZ has seen correspondence between the landlord and tenants confirming the landlord does not want anyone to leave the tenancy and find replacements because they would need to get the house up to the healthy home standards – which she was not yet in the position to do.
Fears more tenants will be stuck in tenancies due to new housing standards rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fears more tenants will be stuck in tenancies due to new housing standards msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.