The Human Rights Commission has called for a repeat of the temporary six-month rent freeze imposed during the first year of Covid-19 and an increase in the Accommodation Supplement to help those hit hardest by cost-of-living shocks to rent and food.
“Too many New Zealanders are sacrificing their fundamental human rights to pay the rent,” said Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt.
“We’re very concerned that some students, low-income or single-wage families are having to make trade-offs between the right to adequate food and the right to a decent home," Hunt said.
He said the Commission wanted the government re-instate a temporary freeze on rent increases and immediately increase the accommodation supplement to aid low-income renters.
“The government of the day has to ensure all New Zealanders can meet their basic living needs. The Cost of Living Payment doesn’t go far enough to address unaffordable rents faced by many low-income renters,” Hunt said.
The Commission said the increase to the accommodation supplement should ensure those on the lowest incomes paid no more than 30% of their after-tax income on housing. Almost half of renters spent at least 30% of their disposable income on rent in the year to June 30, 2020.
The Commission also has an ongoing inquiry into housing.
The Human Rights Commission’s Housing Inquiry Manager Vee Blackwood said the current rental system was not designed for this growth in renters or the emergence of a permanent rental class.
“Alongside these urgent measures, a systemic overhaul of the rental system is necessary to enable all New Zealanders to achieve their human right to a decent home grounded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said Blackwood.
“We’d like to see the government re-evaluate what a fair rent system looks like in order to meet the human rights of tenants," said Blackwood.
The Human Rights Commission is due to launch the next stages of its housing inquiry later this month.
“We want to hear from people about their experiences and their views on what a fairer housing system would look like, whether they are renters or landlords, homeowners or those struggling to find a place to call home,” said Blackwood.
Greens back call
The Green Party said it backed the Commission's call.
"A home is considered unaffordable for someone to rent if they need to spend more than 30% of their income to keep the roof over their heads. Every dollar over this limit that is spent on rent means less for other essentials, such as healthy food and heating in winter," Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said.
Housing Minister Megan Woods was not immediately available for comment, although the Government has previously rejected calls for a new rent freeze.
AS review under way
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said after this year's Budget in May that the Government was reviewing both Working For Families and the Accommodation Supplement. The Government currently spends about $1.5 billion a year on the Accommodation Supplement and has spent $1 billion on temporary housing since its election in 2017.
The Salvation Army has also called for the supplement to increase, including a doubling in some regions. It has pointed out the current Accommodation Supplement levels were based on rental data that was six years out of date. Rents have risen 23% over the last six years.
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