Candidate Laly Samuel answers Renters United’s questions

VOTE HOUSING: LOCAL BODY 2022

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

Rapid fire questions

Are you a renter? No
Do you own any properties? Yes
Do you support the Renters United Healthy Homes Commitment? Yes
Do you commit to funding tenant advocacy? No
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? No
Will you commit to using your platform to abolish the ratepayers roll? No

Stable homes

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

Normally no one will evict good tenants. People who treat the rented house as theirs will never have a problem in staying there for long. I am more than happy to support long term renting if the tenant look after the property well.

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

As long as the tenants pass the inspection or council property check, council should keep the tenants long term through some mutually signed contract. I cannot recommend “all” tenants from my own experience.

What steps will you take to end homelessness in Christchurch?

Provide additional affordable and subsidised state housing for low income families. 1-3 storey houses are not the options. Take the Japanese models.

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?

Yes, I would. It is mandatory to provide healthy home and all necessary facilities according to the contract, otherwise tenancy tribunal should step in to help the tenants.

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

I do not think there is a power imbalance between tenants and landlords. Mainly property managers are the villains.

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?

Rent control is good if we look from tenants perspective. We should look from both sides. Government has imposed tax on mortgage interest. That means the landlord needs to pay extra tax and subsequently put that pressure on tenants to increase the rent. If central government couldn’t help to address the housing crisis, it should provide more power to the city councils.

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

Rent increase is mainly due to the house price increase and mortgage interest increase. If the central government could bring those two things under control we can control the unnecessary rent increase.

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?

Proper ventilation, HRV subsidy and winter electricity subsidy.

Anything else you want to share?

if the tenants look after the property as theirs, and responsible, I wouldn’t increase the rent drastically or evict them from the property with a short notice, But most of the cases the poor condition of the houses and surroundings and fear of destroying the house will make the landlord to cut the contract short.

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

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In: Christchurch, Elections 2022. .