Labour and the Greens have attacked a new tenancy agreement
which gives Housing New Zealand the right to decide whether
people on parole or bail can live in its state homes.
A clause in the agreement, introduced by Housing NZ this
month, requires the department to be notified before people
paroled, on bail or serving home detention move into a state
house.
The department has the final say on whether approval is
granted.
Labour's housing spokeswoman, Moana Mackey, said it was a
draconian decision.
"It is simply not appropriate for a social housing agency to
set itself up as judge and jury on the innocence or guilt of
people appearing before the courts," she said.
"Many people on bail are not convicted of the offences they
are charged with and delays in the court system mean a number
of people remain on bail for a year or more before their case
is heard."
Green Party housing spokeswoman Sue Bradford said the measure
was a recipe for increased crime and poverty.
"This is not the best way to ensure state housing tenants are
safe. It will have the opposite effect, creating crime by
separating families and pushing vulnerable Kiwis into
homelessness," she said.
Housing NZ chief executive Lesley McTurk said the new
agreement addressed concerns about vulnerable families being
able to sustain tenancies when people not usually residing at
the property were bailed or paroled there.
The agreement retained the right of people who usually
resided at their state house to be bailed, paroled or serve a
sentence of home detention there.
"However, where a person who does not normally live at the
property seeks to do so, the tenant will need permission from
Housing New Zealand for them to stay at the address under
those conditions."
Dr McTurk said neighbours' peace, comfort and privacy also
needed to be taken into account.
"As a responsible landlord we need to know who lives in our
houses in order to manage tenancies, set correct rental
levels, prevent overcrowding, and look after the interests of
the community and staff.
"This is about knowing who lives in state houses, not judging
what they've done." Ms Bradford called on Housing Minister
Phil Heatley to reverse the agreement.
A spokesman from Mr Heatley's office said it could protect,
for example, against a gang member applying to inadvertently
live next to a rival, or a convicted paedophile living in an
inappropriate situation.
There would have to be a legitimate reason for Housing NZ to
say "no" to someone requesting to live at a certain address,
the spokesman said.
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