Have your say on whether tenants should pay letting fees

The Social Services and Community Committee is seeking submissions on the Residential Tenancies (Prohibiting Letting Fees) Amendment Bill. The bill aims to ensure that costs associated with letting a rental property are met by the landlord, who benefits from letting a rental, rather than the tenant.

To achieve its aim, the bill would amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 to prevent tenants paying letting fees for services provided by any person in relation to a tenancy. The bill would make it unlawful to charge a tenant a letting fee, with a maximum level of exemplary damages set at $1,000.

Landlords, or their agents, could still seek reimbursement from a tenant for expenses reasonably incurred as a result of a tenant, assigning, subletting, or parting with possession of their interest in a tenancy.

Gareth Hughes, Chair of the Social Services and Community Committee, said: “With more and more Kiwis renting the issue of letting fees as a barrier and a pinch-point to housing is important. The Committee is looking forward to hearing from both landlords and tenants on this bill.”

Read the release here

Tell the Social Services and Community Committee what you think
Send your submission on the bill by midnight on Wednesday 23 May 2018.

For more details about the bill:

Read the full contents of the bill

Get more details about the bill