Labour promises no-cause eviction ban, change of notice period, reduction of inspections and landlord duty of care in rental policy

Labour is promising to return to a ban on no-cause evictions, change notice periods and reduce the frequency of rental inspections in its rental property policy, if elected. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said National "brought back no-cause evictions, leaving families at risk of being forced to move even when they’ve done nothing wrong." 

"That means extra costs, the stress of finding somewhere new and potentially changing their children’s school."

The Labour rental policy includes: 

• Ban no-cause evictions
• Change notice periods for landlords (to 63 days when a landlord or their family wants to move in, and at 90 days for sale, renovation or a change of use). 
• Introduce a duty of care for landlords (this would require landlords to keep the rental safe and fix serious hazards) 
• Require proper curtains or blinds
• Limit insurance companies from requiring inspections more frequently than every six months
• Set rules for property managers
• Require landlords, including Kāinga Ora, to act on serious anti-social behaviour
• Strengthen oversight of boarding houses

No-cause evictions were banned in 2020 under Labour, ending the ability for landlords to end periodic tenancies with 90-days' notice without giving a reason why. Landlords then had to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal and give three examples of bad behaviour over a three month period. 

No-cause evictions were then re-instated at the end of 2024 under the current Government, and notice periods were adjusted to end a periodic tenancy with 90 days’ written notice, or 42 days for specific reasons such as the owner or their family were moving in or the property was being sold. 

Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the proposals would, "give people greater security in their homes, improve rental standards and make sure problems are dealt with properly".

Labour also wants a 'duty of care' for landlords, which requires rental properties to be safe to live in and to fix serious hazards. Tenants and landlords are currently able to issue 14-day notices to remedy damage.

Proper curtains or blinds would be required by Labour, and they would also limit insurance companies from requiring frequent inspections, pushing it out to every six months.

Property managers would have "clear rules" and landlords, including Kāinga Ora, would be required to act on serious anti-social behaviour. 

Labour has also promised to bring in rent-to-buy schemes for Kāinga Ora and participating community housing tenants and to extend the first home loans income eligibility cap to $300,000.