National broom to sweep into housing

The new Government appears likely to keep real estate agent laws introduced by the previous regime but is aiming to make big changes to other property rules.

Help for people with leaking homes and streamlining building consent processes are part of National's policy and a big upgrade of the state housing stock is planned, as well as allowing state tenants to buy their houses.

Phil Heatley, National's housing spokesman who was re-elected MP for Whangarei at the weekend, said this week his party did not oppose the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and had no plans to overturn it.

The law, opposed by the Real Estate Institute in a 300-plus page submission, was introduced to the House by former Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove and passed under urgency on September 4.

"We think it's gone through the process and National had an input into that process. It's not something that we'll be revisiting any time soon," said Heatley, referring to National having been members on the select committee.

But the Building Act and Resource Management Act would be re-examined, he said. "The RMA was designed to protect the environment but it's created a massive bureaucracy that can create costs."

Nick Smith, National's spokesman on building and construction, is responsible for this area.

National has promised to amend the Building Act to reduce costs, establish a building ombudsman to handle building consent gripes, use the building levy to update building standards and reform the licensed building practitioner regime.

To read the full NZ Herald article click here

Posted: 12 Nov 2008

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