Property group wary of new Super Ministry

Media Statement for immediate release

16 March 2012

Property group wary of new Super Ministry

The NZ Property Investors’ Federation was surprised to hear that the Department of Building and Housing is to be merged into the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

“I’m not sure what the Department of Building and Housing has to do with Business, Innovation or employment” said NZPIF President Andrew King.

“We are concerned that the measure is purely for cost cutting purposes and we have already seen a dramatic drop in services over the past two years. While the people at DBH are trying to cope as best they can, their income from the interest on bond deposits has fallen at the same time that Government Departments are being squeezed in general.”

A recent restructure that was purported to be for service improvements saw what was previously a good service deteriorate.

“Landlords and tenants have seen the time it takes to get justice from the Tenancy Tribunal continue to expand. We are extremely wary of this new announcement as we fear it may disadvantage everyone in the rental industry” says King.

“As a key stakeholder, the NZPIF looks forward to being consulted on the merger plans as they are developed. Any further deterioration in the service would be intolerable for everyone in the rental industry”.

ENDS

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