Candidate Prawindra Mukhia answers Renters United’s questions

VOTE HOUSING: LOCAL BODY 2022

Renters United asked every candidate in the Harewood Ward 17 questions about the issues that most concern renters in their ward. Here are Prawindra Mukhia’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? Yes
Do you support councils retaining ownership an expanding supply of council housing? Yes
Will you lobby for IRRS to be extended to councils? No answer provided
Do you commit to densifying inner city suburbs? Yes
Will you commit to using your platform to abolish the ratepayers roll? No answer provided

Stable homes

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

I would look into having a standard renting contract agreement that meets the minimum requirements of both tenants and property owners and that is enforceable.

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

Council tenants will have to abide with the contract. The contract needs to be equitable.

What steps will you take to end homelessness in Christchurch?

This is a difficult question to answer. There could be different causes of homelessness. I would like to understand that first before I make suggestions. But it is an important issue. A society is judged by how well it takes care of the needy.

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?

The standard contract agreement will include clear recourses for any default arise from the renter or the landlord.

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

Help establish the standard renting contract agreement.

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 increase issue should be included in the standard renting contract agreement.

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

Key reasons for the rent increase in my view are the cost of improvements, repair & maintenance and the burden of higher interest rate for paying off the mortgage.

Both the issues can be included in the standard renting contract agreement.

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?

The standard renting contract agreement should include healthy home requirements.

Anything else you want to share?

As a project manager, I rely on a well-made contract agreement. That is the difficult part but it is very essential to ensure that the requirements of both the parties are sorted out.

I am not sure if the Renters United already has such standard agreement in place. If not, I would encourage that to be done with the landlords. And landlords who accept the agreement should be given some sort of a badge, for renters to identify.

Note that there will always be landlords who may not wish to be sign into this. The renter will be aware. It is again a matter of supply and demand.

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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rentersunited

In: Christchurch, Elections 2022. .