Organisations call for freeze on rent increases after Auckland floods
More than 20 organisations and community groups are calling for a freeze on rent increases across Auckland as renters try to get back on their feet after the recent floods.
So far, 21 organisations have signed onto an open letter addressed to the new Minister for Auckland, Michael Wood, calling for a freeze on any rent increases across the city.
The open letter comes after property investment groups predicted landlords would be looking to increase rents across the city.
While renters are struggling to clean and repair their homes, and get kai back on the table, the last thing they need is the looming threat of yet another rent increase, the groups say.
A six month freeze on rent increases was implemented during the COVID pandemic.
“It is becoming clear that many families have lost most of their belongings and on top of that, many do not have insurance,” says Jacqui Southey, Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy and Research Director.
“It is a financial disaster for families in that predicament. A rent freeze would create some breathing space to recover without the looming threat of a rent increase."
“For many families paying rent was already unaffordable. We’ve seen communities throughout Auckland come together, and the last thing we want to see is families being forced to move because of unnecessary rent increases” says Geordie Rogers, President at Renters United.
“Times of crisis such as these call on us to be the society we can be. We can punish people through looming threats that life will be even more unaffordable to increase profits for some, or we can look after one another, and put people first. We need our representatives to be bold and make decisions that put people before profit.” says Ella Grace Newton from ActionStation.