# Question 7: I'm a tertiary student renting a room, working part time and using a student loan. I am struggling to fit paid work around study. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties are offering meaningful changes for renters, and how would their plans affect rent costs, healthy homes and tenancy security? Collected 23 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 5b33eb8e-e12f-406b-b6b8-5f3113851c67 # New Zealand 2026 election: Which parties would make renting easier for students? For a tertiary student renting a room, working part-time and relying on a student loan, the most important housing policies are the ones that reduce your regular costs, keep your room warm and dry, and let you plan your study and work without worrying about suddenly losing your accommodation. There are three distinct questions to consider when comparing parties: - Rent affordability: Will their policies lower rent, slow rent increases, or simply make it easier for landlords to cover their costs? - Healthy homes: Will they strengthen or enforce standards for insulation, heating, ventilation and dampness? - Tenancy security: Will they make it harder to end a tenancy without a valid reason, and give renters more time and certainty if they need to move? An important distinction: a policy that helps landlords financially does not necessarily reduce the rent you pay. Likewise, stronger tenancy rights are not the same as cheaper housing. ## 1. The strongest options for renters Based on published 2026 policies available as of 23 October, the clearest distinction is between parties proposing direct renter protections and parties relying more on increasing housing supply. The election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing)[Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election](https://www.salient.org.nz/post/which-party-should-i-vote-for-your-guide-to-the-2026-election) ![Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/xwoeA3rTn5Pu0UL1uRc6X_g8ADsfUTe55rxQEjXC_rnFR_6TPTr_9eG0LsowNOdFRtax24qB8h-LRfUtZEf42T0CC5OclOZ5katbFJAYxs0cZRyqDBlGNgF_8AV_5WTCbYonGIqLGuK095lLGrkBVw3L8vdsA06tLHVNuCJquuc?purpose=inline) ## 1. Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Most comprehensive renter protections The Greens propose a renter-focused package that includes: - Capping annual rent increases at 2%. - Ending no-cause evictions. - Requiring a rental warrant of fitness and strengthening Healthy Homes Standards. - Offering long-term or permanent tenancies and building tens of thousands of public homes. What it could mean for you: More predictable rent, a stronger ability to stay in your room, and better protection against cold or damp housing. The main uncertainty is how quickly the changes would take effect and whether rent controls would affect rental supply over time. [Greens announce plan to end homelessness & fix housing crisis](https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_announce_plan_to_end_homelessness_fix_housing_crisis)[The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting) Source: [Greens' housing plan](https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_announce_plan_to_end_homelessness_fix_housing_crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![Te Pāti Māori (@Maori_Party) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/C5Ox0A8wvQUsFP-VtrWHKeP6-Ic8fMiqzR6fwTgVCI89BKZ4qO15KWhfgO_hkPhb4uzHIlIf-m8iVIOtE_n3dpm6XeT-XUHl8WsSwbHDpd9cuMseVa0f8XdYoGqbDr3pWVTJaDg048Pdof6_HhRKAR523Vju5XF4tug9-I_6qlg?purpose=inline) ## 2. Te Pāti Māori Strong direct intervention Its published housing proposals include universal rent control, ending no-cause evictions, more funding to help people remain in their homes, and building 2,000 homes on ancestral Māori land over four years. What it could mean for you: Rent controls and stronger tenancy security could help if your income is irregular or you need to protect study time from the disruption of moving. The scale of the benefit would depend on the detailed rules and their implementation. [The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing) Source: [Compare its housing policies](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline) ## 3. New Zealand Labour Party Mixed approach Labour's housing approach includes adding 6,000 social housing places over four years and supporting stronger renter protections, while not proposing the Greens' specific 2% rent cap. Its wider cost-of-living platform includes cheaper public transport and a 10% reduction in eligible student loan balances. What it could mean for you: Potential relief from transport and other expenses, plus more social housing for eligible people. Those student-budget measures could free up money for rent, but they are not a direct guarantee of lower private-room rents. [The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/our-policies/)[NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing) Source: [Labour's 2026 policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/our-policies/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) These three offer different degrees of direct intervention, but their proposals are not interchangeable: the Greens' rent cap is specific, Te Pāti Māori proposes universal rent control, and Labour's clearest housing commitment is expanding social housing alongside its broader cost-of-living programme. ## 2. How the other parties compare ![Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/LCDs4P76HEgfCayafHeSga8GCw12Vxs2fPc3toeyLUZ-wmb6UiGRZY6bhdT1xRejtICfUd6GX2BWmI76EkpoWuffTU4g32bP_qUJp29rsfn5_Zvj5THHSYTLHSoo_5_YQyZ3zKE1WIpB4bu7raRltFl5TZFCgCcE0quf_GohkFI?purpose=inline) National Party Focuses more on increasing housing supply and helping people buy their first home than on introducing new rent caps or stronger eviction restrictions. National restored no-cause eviction provisions and supports landlords' ability to deduct rental-property interest expenses. Likely renter impact: More building could moderate rents over time if enough homes are delivered. However, there is no proposed 2% rent cap, and the current tenancy approach offers less protection against a landlord ending a periodic tenancy without a specific reason. [NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing)[NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing)[The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting) ![POLICY TRACKER: TOP wants to fund cheaper doctor visits with junk-food tax | New Zealand Doctor](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/K1DpIS-dF4mtKrl0KIyfSnF_8RO2gnoDtATKXcH-ytfTo6cgmA_wwVhD8J5hW6OuytxDrAergQSGimCSsVKfunUK61RDtNU5GxwiaPB_cRB685VjK9FjkZErmrrvx_4zTP2h6GpckCQVzANm4LVdUE3kTNzzpmgwLxBt7L_7t70?purpose=inline) ACT New Zealand Emphasises property rights, fewer regulatory barriers and more housing construction. It opposes rent controls and additional landlord regulation. Likely renter impact: If reforms lead to substantially more rental homes, competition could help moderate rents. But you would not get the direct rent-rise limit or stronger no-cause eviction protections proposed by the Greens. [NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing)[NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing) ![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline) New Zealand First Emphasises housing development, infrastructure planning and prioritising citizens for social housing. Its published approach is less focused on rent caps and additional landlord compliance rules. Likely renter impact: Better-coordinated construction could help in the longer term, but the published proposals provide less direct protection against rent increases or tenancy termination. [The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting)[NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing) ![Current party and logo applications | Elections NZ](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/pNlKHoGO5oFk8esijeI0EPY_HRIF-4iYRD0CHpVZsQphNlqc0ahJ7qVeBSZjMPW9XSN7V5h3piIIFyFoDCUELxA2-Tx9wS9WVySIJ0uYwzQbb4lIN2gdYjij08eflf0iRSZ3gQs7DZ4Ggikd2EZK2Oy9bl2ibNAS1uNZRczssME?purpose=inline) The Opportunity Party (TOP) Its housing proposals include planning reform, access to lower-cost finance for affordable housing providers, expanding the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to eligible rentals, and raising minimum Healthy Homes Standards. Likely renter impact: Potentially meaningful improvements in housing quality and future supply. Its published proposals are less centred on rent caps and tenancy security than those of the Greens and Te Pāti Māori. [The property policies: How election 2026 housing promises line up](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing) ## 3. Side-by-side comparison Here is the comparison across the three issues you asked about. It reflects the published proposals, not a guarantee that any party will implement them. | Party | Rent costs | Healthy homes | Tenancy security | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Greens | 2% annual rent cap | Strengthen standards; rental warrant of fitness | End no-cause evictions; long-term tenancies | | Te Pāti Māori | Universal rent control | Supports stronger housing protections | End no-cause evictions | | Labour | No specific 2% cap; more social housing | Supports the existing standards framework | Supports stronger renter protections | | National | Supply-led approach; no rent cap | No new renter-focused warrant of fitness proposed | Retains no-cause eviction provisions | | ACT | More supply; opposes rent controls | Opposes additional regulation | Opposes stronger regulatory restrictions | | NZ First | Supply and infrastructure focus | Less emphasis on additional standards | Less emphasis on expanded renter protections | | TOP | More affordable housing supply | Raise minimum standards; expand eligible rental upgrades | Less emphasis on direct tenancy reforms | Sources: [Interest.co.nz's 2026 housing policy comparison](https://www.interest.co.nz/property/140674/housing-policies-capital-gains-tax-solar-roll-outs-rent-controls-and-offsetting?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Policy.nz's election guide](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and [NZVoteCheck's housing comparison](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Party positions and details may change during the campaign. ## 4. What these policies mean for your weekly budget Because you're juggling paid work, study and a student loan, it's worth distinguishing between policies that might help immediately and those that take longer. If rent increases are your biggest problem A rent cap is the most direct proposal. Under a hypothetical 2% cap, a room costing $250 a week could rise to no more than $255 a week at the next permitted annual increase, assuming the cap applied to your tenancy and no other exceptions. Without a cap, the increase could be higher. If you're worried about being forced to move Stronger eviction protections could make it easier to plan assignments, exams and work shifts without the disruption and expense of finding another room. A rent cap alone would not guarantee you could stay in the property. If your room is cold, damp or expensive to heat Stronger Healthy Homes enforcement and independent inspections could improve living conditions. But better insulation and heating do not automatically mean lower rent, and the practical benefit depends on whether standards are enforced and the improvements reduce your energy costs. If you're struggling to fit work around study More affordable public housing and a larger supply of rental rooms could widen your options over time. Policies reducing transport or other living costs may also mean fewer paid hours are needed to cover essentials. But building programmes take time, and you should not assume that a future policy will ease next semester's budget. One important caveat: rent caps can protect existing tenants from sharp increases, but critics argue they may discourage investment in rental properties or shift costs elsewhere. Whether a cap improves affordability overall depends on its design, exemptions, enforcement and what happens to housing supply. [NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing)[NZ Housing Policy 2026](https://www.nzvotecheck.com/parties/housing) ## 5. One detail that matters if you're renting a room Your legal arrangement can affect which protections apply. Renting a room in a shared house where you have a tenancy agreement with the landlord is not necessarily the same as boarding with a live-in landlord or being a flatmate named only on someone else's agreement. Before relying on any election promise, check whether your arrangement is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act and which tenancy rules apply. You can check your situation through [Tenancy Services](https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ## My assessment For your particular priorities, I'd start by comparing the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and Labour most closely: - Greens: The clearest package if your priorities are limiting rent increases, staying in your accommodation and improving rental quality. - Te Pāti Māori: Worth examining closely if universal rent control and stronger protections against eviction are central to your decision. - Labour: Worth comparing if you prefer a combination of more social housing, stronger renter protections and reductions in other everyday expenses. National, ACT and NZ First offer a different theory of change, relying more on housing supply, development and related measures than on direct limits on rent increases. This is a comparison of housing policy, not a recommendation for your overall vote. You may also want to weigh education funding, student support, wages, public transport and the parties' ability to implement their promises. For a final check before voting, [Policy.nz's 2026 election guide](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing?utm_source=chatgpt.com) lets you compare published party policies across housing and other issues. Remember that the election is on 7 November 2026, and today's promises may still be subject to coalition negotiations and implementation details. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing)[Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election](https://www.salient.org.nz/post/which-party-should-i-vote-for-your-guide-to-the-2026-election) ## Gemini Answer ID: 5f0905b5-ec65-4847-b5de-6709f0221d83 For a tertiary student juggling part-time work, a student loan, and the cost of renting, the housing policies offered by the political parties heading into the 2026 New Zealand general election present distinct approaches. Parties view the intersection of rent costs, housing quality, and security through different lenses. ### Rent Costs and Affordability * **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori:** Both parties are offering direct intervention in the market to lower or freeze cost burdens for tenants. * *Greens* propose strict rent controls limiting annual increases to whichever is lower between inflation and average wage growth. * *Te Pāti Māori* advocates for universal rent controls and a stamp duty/land banking taxes to curb speculative property inflation. For a student, these measures aim to prevent sudden, steep rent hikes that disrupt tight budgets. * **Labour Party:** Focuses heavily on increasing housing supply—pledging thousands of additional social housing places over four years—and introducing a 28% capital gains tax on commercial and residential property (excluding the family home) from mid-2027 to cool speculative demand. They also propose renter-focused clean energy initiatives (like government-backed solar and community batteries) to help lower household utility bills. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Proposes a broad 1.75% annual land value tax to shift economic incentives away from land speculation and encourage housing affordability, alongside expanding the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to certain rentals. * **National & ACT:** Generally favor market-led solutions, emphasizing supply-side reforms (such as freeing up zoning and planning rules) to naturally moderate rent increases over time rather than capping prices. They maintain settings friendly to property investors (such as keeping or supporting mortgage interest deductibility), arguing that penalizing landlords reduces rental availability and ultimately pushes rents higher. ### Healthy Homes and Living Quality * **Green Party:** Proposes establishing a mandatory, independently enforced **Rental Warrant of Fitness** and a national register for landlords and property managers, alongside strengthening existing Healthy Homes Standards. For students living in older, damp flats, a WOF system would legally hold landlords accountable for insulation, heating, and moisture control. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Also advocates for raising the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards and expanding insulation, double-glazing, and electrification grants to rental properties. * **Labour & National:** Generally lean toward maintaining or refining the current baseline Healthy Homes compliance framework, with National supporting targeted energy-efficiency loans (such as for solar and insulation) via home energy funds rather than introducing new structural compliance mandates. ### Tenancy Security * **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori:** Both parties want to heavily reshape tenancy security in favor of the tenant. * *Te Pāti Māori* explicitly calls for the repeal of no-cause evictions and increased funding for tenant support services. * *The Greens* propose that **all rental tenancies be offered as long-term or permanent tenancies** by default, giving tenants much greater stability—though critics argue this reduces flexibility for properties that owners may need to reclaim periodically. * **Mainstream/Centre-Right Parties (National, ACT):** Focus on balancing the rights of both tenants and property owners, resisting heavy-handed restrictions on how landlords can end tenancies, maintaining that overly rigid rules discourage private landlords from staying in the student or general rental market. ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: b5242a07-030d-4c10-a731-b8f7472aa20f Navigating rental costs, part-time work, and a student loan while trying to study is a heavy balancing act. For the **November 7, 2026 New Zealand general election** , political parties have drawn distinct lines around housing, tenancy laws, and renter support. Different parties approach the core pillars of rent costs, healthy homes, and tenancy security through contrasting economic and regulatory lenses: * * * 1\. The Green Party & Te Pāti Māori (Targeted Renter Protections & Market Intervention) Both parties are offering direct, structural interventions aimed at shifting power and cost burdens away from tenants. * * **Rent Costs:** * _Green Party:_ Proposes formal **rent controls** capping annual rent increases to the lower of inflation or average wage growth. * _Te Pāti Māori:_ Proposes universal rent controls alongside a Vacant House Tax (2% annually on capital value for homes empty over three months) to deter land banking and speculative hoarding. * **Healthy Homes:** * _Green Party:_ Pushes to legally strengthen the minimum Healthy Homes Standards, establish an independently enforced **Rental Warrant of Fitness** system, and expand the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to cover eligible rentals for double-glazing and solar. [Interest.co.nz] * **Tenancy Security:** * _Green Party:_ Proposes requiring all standard residential rental tenancies to be offered as **long-term or permanent tenancies** by default, alongside a mandatory national register for landlords. * _Te Pāti Māori:_ Proposes ending/repealing no-cause evictions to increase stability for tenants. [Interest.co.nz] * * * * 2\. The Labour Party (Supply, Taxation, and Renter Energy Relief) Labour’s approach focuses on public housing expansion, broad tax changes on capital gains, and lowering household operational costs. * * **Rent Costs:** Does not propose strict rent price controls, but aims to ease market pressures by committing to build thousands of additional public and social housing places over four years. They also propose a 28% capital gains tax on residential and commercial property (excluding the family home) to dampen speculative property investment. [Interest.co.nz] * **Healthy Homes:** Focuses on lowering utility/energy bills for renters by offering government-backed finance, kickstart subsidies, and community solar/battery roll-outs targeted at rentals. [Interest.co.nz] * **Tenancy Security:** Emphasises boosting social housing supply as an indirect mechanism for security rather than heavy new private-market tenancy restrictions. * * * * 3\. National, ACT, and New Zealand First (Supply-Side & Market-Led Focus) The governing and right-of-centre bloc generally argue that heavy regulations like rent controls or strict warrants reduce rental availability and drive rents up by discouraging landlords. Their focus is on private property rights and supply stimulation. * * **Rent Costs:** Argue that the best way to control rents is through **comprehensive planning and housing supply reforms** (freeing up land and streamlining consenting) to build more houses. They maintain policies supporting landlord incentives (such as restoring interest deductibility on rental properties), asserting this keeps private landlords in the market and prevents rental stock contractions. * **Healthy Homes:** Generally support existing Healthy Homes Standards compliance, but oppose expanding compliance into new prescriptive bureaucratic hurdles or mandatory warrants that they argue increase costs for small landlords (which can be passed on as higher rent). * **Tenancy Security:** Prefer balancing measures within the existing Residential Tenancies Act rather than introducing permanent tenure mandates, maintaining that landlords require flexibility to manage their properties. * * * * Summary Perspective for a Student Renter * * If you want **direct relief on your weekly rent and strict caps on increases** , the Green Party Policy and Te Pāti Māori Policy align closest with your goals through market regulation. * If you want **lower energy/power bills and a larger pool of public housing** , Labour's platform prioritises state building and green-energy integration. * If you believe that **increasing overall housing supply and protecting landlord incentives** will naturally stabilize the private rental market over time, the approaches from National and ACT reflect that economic philosophy. * You can check out and compare specific candidate and party breakdowns directly on Policy NZ ahead of election day on **Saturday, November 7, 2026**. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 02fe128a-64e3-4a12-bdbe-05323c36bb17 As a student renting a room and balancing part-time work, housing policies directly impact your financial flexibility and academic stability. Ahead of the **2026 New Zealand general election** , the major political parties offer distinct approaches to renting. The progressive bloc (**Labour and the Greens**) is proposing stronger state interventions to protect tenants, while the governing conservative bloc (**National and ACT**) focuses on increasing housing supply and easing financial regulations on landlords to naturally stabilize the market. * * * Rent Costs * **The Green Party:** Proposes the most radical direct intervention by introducing **rent controls** , capping annual rent increases at **2%**. This cap would apply both during a tenancy and between tenancies to prevent landlords from raising prices when new flatmates move in. * **Labour:** Focuses on indirect cost relief through structural tax changes, proposing a **28% capital gains tax** on investment properties (excluding the family home) to deter housing speculation, while increasing affordable housing builds rather than introducing strict rent controls. * **National and ACT:** Oppose rent controls, arguing they stifle investment and lead to fewer available properties. Instead, they focus on increasing market supply. ACT proposes removing the **loss ring-fencing rule** for rental properties, which they claim will reduce average rents by lowering tax burdens on "mum and dad" landlords. National emphasizes keeping mortgage interest deductibility for landlords to prevent costs from being passed down to tenants. * * * Healthy Homes & Quality * **The Green Party:** Plans to introduce a mandatory, independently enforced **Rental Warrant of Fitness (WoF)**. This removes the current self-certification loophole, forcing all private rentals to pass independent inspections regarding insulation, heating, and ventilation before they can be legally leased. * **Labour:** Pledges to strictly maintain and enforce the current [Healthy Homes Standards](https://soleagents.co.nz/what-tenants-can-expect-in-2026-landlord-tenant-rights-explained/). They plan to introduce a government-backed **Home Energy Fund** to provide loans for landlords or councils to install solar energy and insulation, with specific "plug-in" options intended to benefit renters. * **National and ACT:** Support maintaining basic safety protections but lean away from adding heavier compliance costs for property owners. Under the current Coalition, Healthy Homes compliance deadlines were extended to ease financial pressure on landlords. Their focus remains on building supply via local council infrastructure incentives rather than growing standard mandates. * * * Tenancy Security * **Labour and the Greens:** Both parties have committed to **abolishing "no-cause" evictions**. They intend to reverse current laws, requiring landlords to prove specific, justified grounds (such as rent arrears, property damage, or moving family into the home) to terminate a tenancy. The Greens also want all agreements to default to permanent or long-term tenancies. * **National and ACT:** Strongly defend the retention of **90-day "no-cause" terminations** for periodic tenancies, which they reinstated to give property owners greater confidence to enter the rental market. They argue this provides landlords with flexibility to deal with anti-social behavior without complex legal battles, though it gives renters less contractual security against sudden displacement. Summary of Party Positions Party| Rent Cost Stance| Healthy Homes Stance| Tenancy Security Stance ---|---|---|--- **Green Party**| Strict 2% annual rent cap| Independent Rental WoF required| End "no-cause" evictions **Labour Party**| Market-driven, disincentivize speculation via CGT| Maintain standards + Home Energy Fund| End "no-cause" evictions **National Party**| Suppress costs by protecting landlord tax breaks| Maintain current standards with flexible timelines| Keep 90-day "no-cause" evictions **ACT New Zealand**| Remove tax ring-fencing to lower investor overheads| Reduce compliance barriers; focus on raw supply| Keep 90-day "no-cause" evictions * * * To help clarify how these policies might impact your student living arrangements, you can consider: * Are you currently on a **fixed-term** or a **periodic** tenancy agreement? * Does your current accommodation meet your needs for **heating and ventilation** , or are you experiencing issues with property quality? * How significantly do **rent increases** impact your weekly budget relative to your student loan or part-time income?