Vinnies meets associate minister over boarding houses

Alicia Sudden and Katie Schraders from the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services were also at the meeting.

Some of the boarding houses in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu are charging rents of $400 a week and more, to maximise government housing subsidies, for small rooms in places that are run-down and unsafe, Vinnies South Auckland stated.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said this month that 14 out of 15 boarding houses inspected in central and south Auckland did not meet Healthy Home Standards.

A bill drafted by Panmure-Ōtāhuhu MP Jenny Salesa to require registration of boarding houses passed its first reading in Parliament on April 29 with rare unanimous support from all parties. The Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill has been referred to Parliament’s Social Services and Community Committee, with submissions closing on June 11.

Ms Salesa said the Bill passing its first hurdle is “one step closer to ensuring boarding homes are clean, safe and warm spaces to live”.

“This sector has operated in the shadows for too long,” she said. “This Bill requires the creation of a national register of boarding homes that will ensure there’s accountability and consequences for landlords running unsafe or unsanitary homes.

“There are countless boarding homes operating illegally throughout the country, many unfit for people to live in. I have seen first-hand the horrific conditions of these homes. No one deserves to live in such poor conditions and it’s time we put a stop to it,” Ms Salesa said.

Vinnies South Auckland said it is working with other agencies “to pursue all possible ways to improve conditions and stop exploitation of vulnerable boarding house tenants”.

FULL STORY

Our financial mentoring team leader… (Society of St Vincent de Paul South Auckland/Facebook)

Release: Boarding House Bill passes first reading (NZ Labour Party)

Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill (NZ Parliament)