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Property managers vetting bank statements for tenants' fast food spend is another reason why the industry should be regulated, says The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ)

 

Bindi Norwell, chief executive at REINZ, said consistent standards were needed to ensure that the industry and consumers have adequate protections.

"The issue of credit checks is just another matter to add to the significant list of reasons that REINZ has been calling for property managers to be regulated for a number of years now. While there are many amazing property managers out there, unfortunately their high standards are being undermined by a lack of regulations and also by a small group who don't have the same ethics," Norwell said.

"We need consistent standards to help ensure that the industry and consumers have adequate protections and clarity in place so that we don't have some tenants living in unsatisfactory conditions, that there are consumer protections in place around holding money in a trust account, that property managers have the appropriate insurance in place to operate in the industry, have a dispute resolution process in place and ensure that regulatory compliance is being adhered to alongside operating under an industry-wide recognised qualification."

Norwell said the focus needs to be around ascertaining whether a tenant has stable employment and can pay the rent, not whether they spend their disposable income on KFC or Uber Eats.

"It's important that property managers carry out due diligence on behalf of their clients (landlords), but the focus needs to be around ascertaining whether a tenant has stable employment and can pay the rent, not whether they spend their disposable income on KFC or Uber Eats," Norwell said.

"The Government appears supportive of property managers asking prospective tenants for bank statements as the Ministry of Social Development website actually says to prospective tenants 'If you're in paid work, ask your employer to give you a letter stating that you're employed in a permanent or long-term job. Or, you could show your landlord your bank statement with regular income'."

New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball has labelled the practice of asking for bank statements a "gross invasion of privacy", while Consumer NZ called it "very concerning" and "unethical".

Lawyer Katherine Gibson told Larry Williams there is also concern is other information may be on the statement which shows things such as religious beliefs.

"That's a prohibited ground. You cannot decide not to grant something a tenancy on the basis of your religious belief."

Earlier, Housing Minister Phil Twyford said it was unacceptable for landlords to request to see tenants bank records.