28 Jun 2014

Labour pledges to move on Chch rents

10:02 am on 28 June 2014

The Labour Party says if elected it will increase Christchurch's accommodation supplement to a level equal with Auckland's.

Labour's Housing spokesperson, Phil Twyford, announced his party's Christchurch housing policy on Friday.

Mr Twyford said Labour will, for the period of Christchurch's housing crisis, make the accommodation supplement in Christchurch equal to the levels of help available in South and West Auckland.

"Labour will get rid of the anomaly that means renters in Canterbury aren't getting the help that they deserve through the accommodation supplement that people in Auckland are getting who are paying similar rents."

Mr Twyford said it was an anomaly that the Government had allowed while rents had skyrocketed in Canterbury.

He said this would cost an estimated $17 million more each year, increasing the maximum accommodation supplement by between $35 and $50 a week.