deflux-admin's blog

We came across an old newsletter from 2008 - TPA Housing - Tenant News.  The opening article "From the Desk of Helen", manager of TPA is about the issues around rental housing quality.  We thought it was worth republishing..... TPA will be re-introducing the newsletter so keep your eye out for upcoming publications. 

Housing Minister Nick Smith has finally cleared up a mystery from last week's Budget - disclosing that only new tenants moving into community housing, and not existing tenants, will get state-subsidised rents.

That explains how he was able to extend income-related rental subsidies to community housing tenants for an average of only $35 a week per house by 2016-17, only a sixth of the $215 average for Housing NZ houses.

The Tenants Protection Association (Christchurch) Inc. is undertaking a survey of the rising costs of residential rental properties in Christchurch and the Canterbury district post-earthquakes, and the effects these rising costs are having on tenants. The study will also investigate the quality and standards of rental housing. The findings will be used to inform the community and to influence government agencies responsible for housing. Submissions have now closed and the results will be analyzed and posted along with key findings and recommendations in late June 2013.

The Earthquake Commission could face millions of dollars in extra payouts after a High Court judge ruled it must provide cover to boarding houses.

The commission (EQC) had disputed it was liable for the properties, claiming boarding houses where people lived separately but shared facilities like kitchens and bathrooms were not residential buildings - the only building type it provides cover for.

There are more than 30 boarding house owners in Canterbury with earthquake-damaged properties.

On Friday 1st February Tenants Protection Association welcomed a visit from the Minister of Housing The Hon. Dr. Nick Smith and Christchurch Central MP. Nicky Wagner. Dr Smith was on his first visit to Christchurch after being appointed and was keen to hear issues from a tenant advocate perspective. TPA was delighted to be given the opportunity to share with the Minister some of those issues. We hope to see the Minister in Christchurch at a Housing Forum in the near future.

A big welcome to all our repeat or first time visitors to the site for 2013. To make it easier and more enjoyable for you to access the information we provide, we have given our website a revamp. It's fresh and bright, and we feel it portrays our outgoing and friendly approach to our many users. Feel free to have a browse around and notice the easy to use coloured sections, more spacious layout for easy readability and more. As always if you need any more information or want to come see us we are at 113 Tuam Street, Christchurch. Or you can call us on (03) 379-2297