Real Estate News & Articles
New Pet-Friendly Rental Laws Enhacted for Tenants and Landlords
1 week ago | 122 viewsStarting from December 1, 2025, changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will provide tenants with pets more rental property options, as announced by Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. The new policy introduces a pet bond system allowing landlords and tenants to lodge, top-up, or refund pet bonds, aiming to facilitate pet-friendly rentals and benefit both tenants and landlords. The reforms emphasize the importance of fairness, trust, and supporting a well-functioning rental property market, with a focus on practical solutions that cater to the needs of renters and property owners alike.
Tags: Government Residential Tenancies Act Housing Minister Chris Bishop Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka tenants landlords pet bonds system rental marketNew Regulations Ease Building Restrictions for Garden Sheds and Garages
2 weeks ago | 142 viewsHomeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages now face less red tape and delays as the setback distance requirements have been revised. The minimum distance between single-storey buildings under 10 square meters and property boundaries or other buildings has been removed, while the setback distance for buildings between 10 and 30 square meters has been reduced to one meter. These changes aim to make it easier for property owners to construct practical structures without the need for building consent, aligning with efforts to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and improve building affordability and accessibility.
Tags: Changes homeowners garden sheds sleepouts garages red tape Regulation Minister David Seymour Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk setback distance building consentKaikohe Affordable Housing Project: 100 Homes to Bring Stability and Opportunities
2 weeks ago | 135 viewsAn Iwi - Crown partnership in Kaikohe will deliver 100 affordable rental homes, providing stability and pride for whānau while creating local jobs and opportunities. The Bisset Road development, backed by Government and Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi funding, will address housing challenges and improve health outcomes for the community. This project is part of the larger Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga initiative aiming to develop over 400 affordable rentals for Māori by 2027, showcasing successful collaboration between Iwi and Government in creating sustainable housing solutions.
Tags: Tama Potaka Kaikohe Iwi Crown partnership Te Tai Tokerau Ngāpuhi Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga Māori Government Bisset Road.New Regulations for Managing Methamphetamine Residue in Rental Properties: What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know
1 month ago | 210 viewsAssociate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announces new regulations for managing methamphetamine residue in rental properties to provide clarity and safety for both tenants and landlords. The rules establish contamination thresholds, procedures for testing and decontamination, and guidelines for handling abandoned goods in affected properties. Extensive consultation with experts and stakeholders has informed the development of these regulations, which are set to take effect next year to improve safety and transparency in the rental market.
Tags: Tama Potaka tenants landlords methamphetamine residue rental properties regulations decontamination testing contamination New Zealand StandardNew Regulations for Managing Methamphetamine Residue in Rental Properties
1 month ago | 190 viewsAssociate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announces new regulations for managing methamphetamine residue in rental properties, aiming to provide clarity and safety for both landlords and tenants. The regulations set clear guidelines for contamination levels, decontamination requirements, and tenant options when residue levels exceed certain thresholds. Extensive consultation with experts and stakeholders has informed the development of these regulations, which are expected to be implemented next year.
Tags: Tama Potaka tenants landlords methamphetamine residue rental properties regulations decontamination testing New Zealand Standard 8510:2017 contaminationGovernment-iwi Partnership to Deliver 80 Affordable Rental Homes in Rotorua by 2027
1 month ago | 255 viewsThe Government and Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc are partnering to build 80 affordable rental homes at Manawa Gardens in Rotorua by mid-2027, with a total investment of $45 million. These homes aim to provide housing security for kaumātua, working whānau, and others in need, with rents capped at 80% of market rates for 25 years. This initiative is part of the broader commitment to deliver 400 affordable rental homes for Māori across New Zealand by 2027, aiming to address housing pressures and transition away from emergency motels.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc Manawa Gardens Rotorua affordable rental homes housing Māori whānau Associate Housing MinisterCHFA Launches $200 Million Bonds to Boost Affordable Housing Supply
1 month ago | 279 viewsHousing Minister Chris Bishop commends the Community Housing Funding Agency (CHFA) for launching $200 million in A+ rated bonds, making cheaper lending available for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to deliver more social and affordable homes. The social bonds were well received by investors, demonstrating confidence in supporting social and affordable housing in New Zealand. The government is supporting CHPs by funding over 2,000 social homes and backing CHFA with a $150 million lending facility to help reduce borrowing costs and enable the delivery of more homes for less.
Tags: Chris Bishop Community Housing Funding Agency CHFA social bonds affordable housing social homes Community Housing Providers New Zealand Kāinga Ora financingRevitalizing the Property Sector: Updates on Market Cycles, Innovative Ideas, and Growth Opportunities in Queenstown
2 months ago | 277 viewsThe speaker expresses gratitude for being at an event in Queenstown hosted by the Property Council, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders in the property industry. They acknowledge the challenges faced by the construction and property sectors due to inflation and economic cycles but highlight government initiatives to support recovery, including reforms to streamline building processes. The speaker outlines key pillars of the Going for Housing Growth program and upcoming Resource Management Act reforms aimed at facilitating development and addressing infrastructure needs, concluding with a mention of City and Regional Deals as strategic partnerships to drive economic growth and housing development.
Tags: Leonie Freemen Minister Penk Shamubeel Eaqub Simplicity Reserve Bank Property Council Resource Management Act Going for Housing Growth Development Levies Infrastructure Funding and Financing ActSpeech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: Saying yes to more housing
4 months ago | 1043 viewsGood morning and thanks to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for hosting us. I have spent most of my life in either the Hutt or Wellington and I love this city and I love our region. Some people like to paint this city as only a public service town.
Tags: New zealand Treasury Wellington Wellington chamber of commerce Zealand