Candidate Damian Light answers Renters United’s questions

VOTE HOUSING: LOCAL BODY 2022

Renters United asked every candidate the Howick Ward 17 questions about the issues that most concern renters in their ward. Here are Damian Light’s responses in full.

Rapid fire questions

Are you a renter? Yes
Do you own any properties? No
Do you support the Renters United Healthy Homes Commitment? Yes
Do you commit to funding tenant advocacy? Yes
Do you support councils retaining ownership an expanding supply of council housing? Yes
Will you lobby for IRRS to be extended to councils? Yes
Do you commit to densifying inner city suburbs? Yes
Will you commit to using your platform to abolish the ratepayers roll? Yes

Stable homes

What actions would you take to improve stability and security for private renters?

Provide additional funded legal advice through community services like CAB to ensure renters are getting support and understand their rights.

How will you ensure all council tenants have security of tenure?

Advocate for longer rental terms to provide stability.

What steps will you take to end homelessness in Auckland?

Fully committed to Housing First – getting people into safe, warm housing is priority. Greater support for Auckland City Mission (and others) to support those that need it.

Meaningful enforcement

If elected, would you take steps to tackle persistent bad landlords who do not meet their obligations to renters in your area? If so, what?

Consider compliance actions under existing legislation and if not sufficient, lobby government for greater enforcement of laws (either by council or government) together with funding to ensure compliance.

What do you think Council should do to address power imbalance between landlords and tenants? If nothing, why?

Provide additional funded legal advice through community services like CAB to ensure renters are getting support and understand their rights.

Fair rent

Would you advocate for additional powers or resources from Central Government to address the housing crisis (such as legislating for Rent Control), if so what and how?

Use the collective voice of Auckland to lobby MPs, Ministers and Govt to improve laws and increase funding for compliance and enforcement.

What do you think are the main reasons rents in Auckland are increasing? How would you ensure rents in Auckland are affordable?

Increasing due to rising housing prices and unreasonable expectations of returns, increased market pressure and limited supply allows landlords to increase prices.

Safe and healthy homes

What actions (in contrast to or in conjunction with our Healthy Homes Commitment) would you take to improve the quality of private rental housing in your ward and in your city?

Increase scope of housing inspection and compliance services to consider state of all homes, compared against housing standards. Consider council warrant of fitness (similar to food safety standard) to raise visibility of quality of rentals.

Anything else you want to share?

Need action to reduce vacant housing to maximise the utilisation of existing homes we have.

If you are a candidate or representative of a candidate and wish to correct or elaborate on the information please contact lbe22@rentersunited.org.nz.

Authorised by Geordie Rogers, geordie@rentersunited.org.nz

About the author:

rentersunited

In: Auckland, Elections 2022. .