Candidate Nicholas Hancox answers Renters United’s questions

VOTE HOUSING: LOCAL BODY 2022

Renters United asked every candidate in the Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward 17 questions about the issues that most concern renters in their ward. Here are Nicholas Hancox’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? No
Will you lobby for IRRS to be extended to councils? No
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?

Tenancy laws need to be amended by central government to more focused on empowering tenants, not landlords. For example, protections against eviction so tenants themselves have an interest in improving their homes materially.

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

Advocate central government to refocus tenancy laws away from landlords to better protections for tenants.

What steps will you take to end homelessness in Wellington?

No answer provided

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?

Adequately resource investigations of complaints by residents and fines for landlords who don’t meet housing standards.

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

This is a long-term issue which central government is best positioned to address.

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?

I would prefer to address this in other ways, such as improving public transport to make residential areas outside the inner city more attractive to live in.

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

Inflation. Lack of capital gains taxes on investment properties means that renters are effectively subsidising wealth storage of the financial elite in the real estate market. There needs to be better nationwide awareness of this issue to advocate reform by central government.

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?

I support Renters United’s advocacy in improving the standards of rental housing in Wellington. For too long landlords generally have enjoyed the privilege of passive income, without contributing innovation to the economy or employing people within the economy while enjoying tax free capital gains on their assets and increasing their own net worth.

Anything else you want to share?

No answer provided

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: Elections 2022, Wellington. .