A petition has been started in a bid to protect elderly people from being kicked out of rest homes.

It's been started by former Christchurch City Council member Ali Jones.

She's asking Parliament to look at legislation that leaves some of the most vulnerable members of society with less protection than students in flats.

Jones says she started the petition after hearing a significant number of Merivale Retirement Village residents were given a month's notice to leave.

"They are in a place that many of them expect to live heir life out in, it's their home and unfortunately, there is nothing that protects or gives them security of tenure.