OPINION

Yesterday the Government announced a vitally important policy…a policy that is needed before any other policies or law changes…a policy to allow renters to have pets. Seriously, that’s exactly what Chris Bishop and David Seymour think is vitally important legislation, right now!

The Government says it is introducing pet bonds for renters, and obligations for tenants to pay for the damage their animals cause.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Regulation Minister David Seymour announced the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act on Monday, saying they hoped the changes would give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property.

The changes to the legislation include:

  • Introducing a pet bond (set at a maximum of two weeks rent) that can be charged in addition to the existing bond
  • Making tenants liable for all pet damage to properties beyond fair wear and tear. This means a tenant is fully liable for any accidental or careless damage caused by pets, as well as any intentional damage
  • Requiring that tenants may only have a pet or pets with the consent of the landlord, who can withhold consent on reasonable grounds

Bishop said the changes would be welcomed by prospective tenants with pets.

“Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64% of New Zealand households own at least one pet, and 59% of people who don’t have a pet would like to get one,” he said. 

“Anyone who has ever tried to find a pet-friendly rental property will know how hard it is, so we’re going to make it easier.”

Stuff

While it is nice to know that pet owners won’t now be discriminated against, the reality is it will actually change nothing. But this seems to have been a priority for this Government, ahead of the multitude of other problems that need fixing.

It’s hard to take this seriously. But it is real, and Bishop and Seymour both turned up for the presser with a couple of dogs.

This is a nice to have change but it has been given priority. I’m gobsmacked, actually.

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As much at home writing editorials as being the subject of them, Cam has won awards, including the Canon Media Award for his work on the Len Brown/Bevan Chuang story. When he’s not creating the news,...