Candidate Yani Johanson answers Renters United’s questions

VOTE HOUSING: LOCAL BODY 2022

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

Rapid fire questions

Are you a renter? No
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? No
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?

I will continue to push for Greater Christchurch to adopt its Affordable and Social Housing plan and to act with urgency. I support Council funding tenant’s advocacy services to help.

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

Council needs to facilitate the building of first homes for people and for long term affordable rentals. We must change the inter-generational inequity by taking a long term view. Topping up rents to market level increase rents. A better approach is for that funding to go towards direct building of public housing.

What steps will you take to end homelessness in Christchurch?

Support investment in social services and look at models such as Housing First to be better resourced, evaluated, and enhanced to make a difference,

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?

No answer provided

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

It should provide long term affordable rentals

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?

Yes, as I did in the post earthquake environment, I believe there needs to be greater controls on the market set by central government. It also must find a way to capitalise on the profits that are made from rezoning and upzoning to put back into affordable homes to rent and buy.

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

No answer provided

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 have and will continue to support investment in housing that is warm and energy efficient. As a trustee of the Otautahi Community Housing Trust, I have advocated for a higher build cost that provides a more energy efficient and more affordable user cost to the tenant

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: Christchurch, Elections 2022. .