A potential new government could bring changes to the rental landscape, as indicated by National’s Housing Spokesperson, Chris Bishop.
Currently, landlords can only end a tenancy for valid reasons, such as rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
However, if the National wins the election, they plan to eliminate the current government's ban on evicting tenants without cause, along with other rental regulations, such as the 10-year Brightline test and the reintroduction of interest deductibility for rentals.
Bishop believes that allowing landlords to evict tenants without cause would benefit renters and ease the burden of increased tenancy regulations, which have resulted in a decrease in housing supply and an increase in rent prices.
He argues that the current policy has discouraged "Mum and Dad" landlords from renting to vulnerable individuals since it is difficult to evict them if things don't work out and National aims make it easier to be a landlord in New Zealand, increasing the supply of rental properties and helping alleviate the housing crisis.
According to Bishop, this is just the first of several housing announcements that will be made over the next few months. Stay tuned for more updates.
