There's renewed calls for a warrant of fitness system for rental houses in Christchurch.

The Maori Development Minister spent time in Christchurch this week, where he was shocked to find the state of housing some families are paying good rent for, and are forced to live in every day.

"There were holes inside the cupboards where the occupant told me the rats came in. I know that there were because they showed me a Weet-Bix package that had the bites of rats that were there."

Te Ururoa Flavell says something needs to be done to stop the powerful preying on the weak.

"I think that property owners and indeed those who are looking after rental properties should start looking in the mirror because it's inappropriate that people live in those conditions."

Flavell says he plans to take the issue up with Christchurch's mayor.

Deputy mayor Vicki Buck agrees it is a problem, but says there's not much the council can do about it.

"There are no controls at all on private rentals in terms of any local or government warrant of fitness and actually we would be very much in favour of that."

Buck says the more minds that are thinking about the issue, the better for the whole community, and welcomes the Minister's suggestion of a sit down meeting to discuss the problem.

"We would be very happy to talk to him at any time, we are meeting this week in terms of the Housing Accord with the Minister of Housing Nick Smith."