# Question 31: I'm a sole parent with a preschool child, renting and working part time. Childcare costs and support rules affect how many hours I can take on. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about secure rentals and help with housing costs for families on low incomes? Collected 2 November 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 28d3f96f-9da7-4b71-9e90-bde326f43ee9 # 2026 New Zealand election: secure rentals and housing support For a sole parent renting and working part-time, there are two particularly important policy questions to examine: 1. Housing security: Would you have greater protection from rent increases, unjustified eviction, short-notice termination or insecure tenancies? 2. Housing affordability: Would you receive more help with rent, have access to affordable public or community housing, or keep more of your income after housing costs? There is also a third issue that deserves attention in your circumstances: whether housing assistance and childcare support allow you to increase your working hours without losing so much assistance that your family is financially worse off. I'll distinguish between announced party policies, existing government rules and proposals that still need detail. A party's general housing philosophy is not necessarily a funded election commitment. ## 1. What the main parties are proposing The following reflects policies and announcements available as at 2 November 2026. The focus is on renting and support for low-income households, rather than first-home buyers. ### Labour Announced 2026 commitments Labour has proposed: - More secure tenancies: Ban no-cause evictions, requiring landlords to give a valid reason to end a tenancy. - Longer notice: 63 days if the landlord or their family wants to move in, and 90 days for a sale, renovation or change of use. - Rent increases: Retain a limit of one increase every 12 months, with better enforcement. - Better rental standards: A landlord duty of care for serious hazards, proper curtains or blinds, and clearer rules for property managers. - More public housing: Restart Kāinga Ora's building programme and support community housing providers. - Rent-to-buy: Eligible working tenants in Kāinga Ora and participating community housing properties could receive a $100 weekly credit towards a future deposit. An important income-support position: Labour says it would retain the 25% income-related rent contribution for social housing tenants rather than adopt the Government's planned 30%. It has also opposed using increases to the Accommodation Supplement as a substitute for affordable social housing. [Making Renting Better for Kiwis](https://www.labour.org.nz/renting-better)[Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/)[How should housing policy change?](https://undecided.nz/issues/housing/) What this could mean for you: The tenancy protections are relevant even if you never intend to buy a house. However, the rent-to-buy scheme is not a general rental subsidy and would not automatically help someone renting privately. ### National National's approach has focused on increasing housing supply, changing the way social housing is allocated, and encouraging movement from social housing into private rentals where possible. Its announced policies and existing government changes include: - Continuing its approach to tenancy law, which restored landlords' ability to end periodic tenancies without giving a reason, subject to statutory notice requirements. - Targeting social housing more tightly towards people with the greatest and most persistent housing needs. - Exploring more defined social housing tenancy durations, with exemptions for people whose needs are ongoing. - Raising income-related rents in social housing from 25% to 30% of household income, phased in from April 2027. - Increasing maximum Accommodation Supplement rates by $10–$30 a week, depending on circumstances. - Increasing access to First Home Loans by raising the income cap to $300,000. The Government estimates that the social housing rent change will affect around 84,000 households, increasing rents by an average of approximately $31 a week. These are government changes and proposals, not merely campaign speculation. [Delivering fairer social housing](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260521-honchrisbishop-housing)[Delivering fairer social housing](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/delivering-fairer-social-housing)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026) What this could mean for you: If you are a private renter, the proposed increase in Accommodation Supplement maximums could matter more directly than the social housing rent changes. But the changes to social housing eligibility and tenancy arrangements are also relevant if you might need a Kāinga Ora home in future. ### Green Party Announced housing programme The Greens' A Home for Everybody programme proposes: - Rent increases capped at 2% annually. - Linking the rent for a new tenancy to the rent charged to the previous tenant. - Ending no-cause evictions. - Requiring long-term or permanent tenancy agreements. - Introducing an independently enforced Rental Warrant of Fitness. - Strengthening Healthy Homes requirements. - Building tens of thousands of public homes. - Increasing support for community housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. The Greens also propose changes to tax settings for landlords and property investors, arguing that housing should be treated primarily as a place to live rather than an investment asset. [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) What this could mean for you: The rent cap and longer-term tenancy proposals directly address two issues that can affect a parent with a young child: unpredictable housing costs and the possibility of having to move unexpectedly. ### ACT ACT's housing approach puts considerable emphasis on private-sector development, property rights and reducing the costs of providing rental housing. Its October 2026 announcement proposes: - Allowing landlords to offset future rental-property losses against other taxable income. - Reducing barriers to housing development and encouraging more rental housing investment. - Continuing its approach of relying on housing supply and market competition rather than introducing rent controls. ACT argues that reducing costs for landlords will encourage investment and ultimately benefit renters. That is the party's stated rationale, rather than a guarantee that individual tenants will receive lower rents. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-to-abolish-another-of-labour-s-renters-taxes)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026) What this could mean for you: ACT's proposals do not offer a specific new weekly rent payment or a proposed rent cap. Their intended benefit to renters is through greater housing supply and investment. ### Te Pāti Māori Te Pāti Māori's housing programme includes: - Universal rent control, initially involving a rent freeze followed by limits on increases. - Repealing no-cause evictions. - Increasing funding for Sustaining Tenancies, which helps tenants at risk of losing their homes. - Building more public and affordable housing. - Supporting housing on Māori ancestral land. - Taking action against land banking and vacant properties. The party has also proposed allocating 50% of new social housing to Māori. [Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)[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)[How should housing policy change?](https://undecided.nz/issues/housing/) What this could mean for you: Its rent-control and tenancy-protection proposals are relevant to private renters, while the social housing allocation proposal has a specific Māori focus. ### New Zealand First NZ First has emphasised: - Prioritising New Zealand citizens for social housing. - Housing development and infrastructure being coordinated, including roads and wastewater before developments proceed. - Increasing housing supply through development. The available election material provides less detail about specific rent caps, private tenancy protections or increases to weekly rental assistance. [Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy) ### The Opportunity Party (TOP) TOP is also worth including in your comparison. Its housing proposals include a focus on increasing housing supply and addressing the incentives that affect land and property use. Its detailed proposals are available through the election policy tracker, although I would distinguish these from specific commitments to increase rental assistance or strengthen tenancy protections. [Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/)[How should housing policy change?](https://undecided.nz/issues/housing/) ## 2. Comparison at a glance This table brings the differences together for someone who is renting rather than buying. | Party | Security against eviction | Rent increase proposals | Public/social housing | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Labour | Ban no-cause evictions | Once every 12 months | Expand building | | National | Retains current no-cause termination rules | No new rent cap | More tightly targeted | | Greens | End no-cause evictions | 2% annual cap | Tens of thousands more homes | | ACT | Retains its market-oriented approach | No proposed rent cap | Emphasis on private supply | | Te Pāti Māori | Repeal no-cause evictions | Universal rent control | Expand public housing | | NZ First | No comparable detailed commitment identified | No specific cap identified | Prioritise citizens | | TOP | No comparable detailed commitment identified | No specific cap identified | Focus on housing supply | [Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/)[How should housing policy change?](https://undecided.nz/issues/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)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-to-abolish-another-of-labour-s-renters-taxes) One important distinction: a promise to build more houses is not the same as a promise to make your current rent more affordable. Similarly, a rent cap protects against certain increases but does not necessarily reduce the rent you are already paying. ## 3. What help with housing costs can you access now? It is worth looking at existing assistance separately from election promises. You don't have to wait for the election to check your entitlements. ### Accommodation Supplement The Accommodation Supplement is a weekly, non-taxable payment towards rent, board or home ownership costs. It can be available to private renters, including sole parents who work part-time. Eligibility and payment amounts depend on: - Your income and assets. - Your rent. - Your family circumstances. - The area where you live. For a sole parent with one child, the current maximum weekly payment ranges from $80 to $235 depending on the area classification. You do not necessarily receive the maximum. [Accommodation Supplement](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/accommodation-supplement) ### Income-related rent If you qualify for Kāinga Ora or approved community housing, your rent may be income-related rather than simply the market rent. The current minimum contribution is generally 25% of assessable household income. The Government has announced that this will rise to 30% from April 2027, with a phased introduction. Labour proposes retaining the 25% contribution. [Delivering fairer social housing](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260521-honchrisbishop-housing)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-to-abolish-another-of-labour-s-renters-taxes) ### Temporary Additional Support If your essential costs exceed your income and other assistance, you may qualify for Temporary Additional Support. This is a discretionary, time-limited payment assessed against your circumstances. The Government has announced changes to its maximum payment as part of Budget 2026, so it is worth checking the latest eligibility and rates rather than assuming current settings will continue. ### Where to check - [Work and Income – Accommodation Supplement](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/accommodation-supplement.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com). - [Work and Income – check your entitlements](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). - [Kāinga Ora – public housing information](https://www.kaingaora.govt.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ## 4. The issue that may matter most: increasing your working hours For your circumstances, I would pay particular attention to how housing assistance interacts with employment income. Imagine you are offered another shift or an opportunity to work an extra day. Your household budget could be affected by several things at once: - Your wages increase. - Your Accommodation Supplement may reduce as income rises. - Your Working for Families payments may change. - Childcare costs may increase. - Your eligibility for other assistance may change. A policy that increases the maximum Accommodation Supplement is not necessarily the same as a policy that makes it easier to increase your working hours. When assessing parties, some useful questions are: 1. Would I be able to keep my rental home if my income changed? 2. Would I have protection against sudden rent increases? 3. Would I have enough notice to find another home if my landlord wanted me to leave? 4. Would I receive more housing assistance as a low-income working parent? 5. Would extra working hours leave my household better off after childcare and reduced assistance? 6. Would I have a realistic pathway into secure public or community housing if private rent became unaffordable? ## 5. Where to compare the parties yourself These independent resources can help you check the policies and their details: - [Policy.nz – 2026 election housing comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing?utm_source=chatgpt.com): compare housing, renting and social housing policies. - [The Conversation – 2026 party policy tracker](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com): broader comparison across election issues. - [RNZ – 2026 housing policy guide](https://unmasked.goodfriends.workers.dev/megan-http-www.radionz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/feature/housing-policy-guide?utm_source=chatgpt.com): reporting on housing announcements from the parties. - [Vote NZ](https://vote.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com): enrolment and voting information. ## 6. My suggested framework for your decision I would keep three separate measures in mind when comparing the parties: | What matters | What to look for | | --- | --- | | Stability for your child | Longer tenancies, eviction protections and predictable rent | | More money available each week | Accommodation Supplement, income support and rent affordability | | Ability to work more | How housing assistance, childcare costs and income-tested support interact | One final point: don't overlook social housing eligibility. If your private rental costs are taking up too much of your income, it may be worth checking whether you qualify for the public housing register, even if you are currently working part-time. The central question for your vote is not just which party promises cheaper housing. It is which proposed combination of rental protections, housing assistance and income support would give your household greater financial stability. You deserve to be able to consider extra work without constantly worrying that the cost of childcare, rent and lost assistance will leave you worse off. --- Worked for 1m 22s Searching the web Searching the web Searched 15 websites ## Gemini Answer ID: bd6ad507-75b1-4635-8f5c-0d30a74a828b For a sole parent working part-time with a preschool child, housing stability and the cost of renting are central issues—especially when balancing part-time hours with childcare logistics. In the **2026 New Zealand general election**, political parties have drawn distinct lines regarding renter security, rent controls, and housing cost support for low-income families. --- ### 1. Secure Rentals and Tenant Protections The debate around rental security largely splits along traditional political lines, focusing heavily on whether to restrict landlord powers or rely on market supply. * **Labour:** Proposes a major renter security package. This includes **banning no-cause evictions** (forcing landlords to provide a valid reason, such as selling or renovating, with notice periods extended to 63 or 90 days) and enforcing rules so rent can only increase once every 12 months. They also pledge stricter requirements for healthy homes standards (like proper curtains/blinds) and clear rules on handling serious anti-social behavior. * **Green Party:** Proposes some of the most interventionist policies for renters. They pledge to **cap rent increases at a maximum of 2% per year**, ban no-cause evictions, require all tenancies to be offered as long-term or permanent options by default, and introduce an independently certified Rental Warrant of Fitness alongside a national register of landlords. * **Te Pāti Māori:** Proposes universal rent control tied to the rate of inflation, a ban on no-cause evictions, and increased funding for "Sustaining Tenancies" services to help families avoid losing their homes. * **National, ACT, and NZ First:** Generally focus on housing supply and property market incentives rather than increasing tenancy regulations. National and ACT maintain that heavy-handed restrictions or rent caps can shrink rental supply or drive up costs, leaving current tenancy framework rules largely in place while focusing policy efforts on easing planning/consenting rules to build more houses. ### 2. Help with Housing Costs and Low-Income Support Aside from direct tenancy laws, parties differ on how they approach housing affordability and support for low-income households: * **Social Housing Supply:** * *Labour* has pledged to restart large-scale Kāinga Ora building programmes and deliver thousands of community housing places, alongside a "rent-to-buy" pathway for working public-housing tenants aiming for homeownership. * *The Greens and Te Pāti Māori* heavily emphasize expanding state and public housing stock, funded in part by removing tax breaks (like interest deductibility for investors) and introducing wealth or land taxes to redistribute support toward low-income earners. * *Te Pāti Māori* also proposes a vacant house tax and specific allocations of social housing for priority groups. * **First-Home and Pathways to Stability:** * Several parties (including *Labour* and *Te Pāti Māori*) support widening access to low-deposit homeownership by lifting the income caps on First Home Loans (proposing caps up to $300,000 for applicants) to help working families transition out of the rental market if their part-time hours allow. * **Market-Led Approaches:** * *National and ACT* prioritize easing land supply, reforming the Resource Management Act (RMA), and encouraging private developments (including granny flats and flexible building rules) to naturally moderate housing and rental cost pressures through increased supply. --- **Follow-up Question:** Would you like to explore how different parties' policies on working-for-families or childcare subsidies might interact with your part-time hours and housing situation? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: b24d1eb5-1e0d-4566-a003-98f2d0d63e2b For the _2026 New Zealand general election_ , political parties have put forward distinct approaches regarding secure renting, housing costs, and pathways for low-income families and sole parents. **New Zealand Labour Party** Labour's housing platform focuses heavily on strengthening tenant security and providing transitional pathways toward homeownership for state or community housing tenants. * **Rental Security & Fairness:** Proposes banning no-cause evictions (requiring landlords to provide a valid reason to end a tenancy). They also propose increasing notice periods for tenants (e.g., 63 days if a landlord/family moves in, and 90 days for sale, renovation, or change of use). * **Healthier & Safer Homes:** Introduces a formal landlord duty of care to address serious hazards promptly, updates Healthy Homes standards to include requirements for proper curtains/blinds, and reduces routine inspection frequencies to no more than once every six months. * **Rent-to-Buy & First Home Support:** Proposes a rent-to-buy scheme for Kāinga Ora and community housing tenants where $100 a week of rent is credited toward a house deposit in a trust account. Additionally, they propose raising the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan income cap to $ 300 , 000 to widen access to a 5% deposit pathway. **New Zealand National Party** National's approach centers on increasing overall housing supply, adjusting market settings, and broadening access to low-deposit home ownership tools rather than regulatory intervention in the rental market. * **First Home Loans:** Alongside aligning on broadening support frameworks like lifting the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan income thresholds to $ 300 , 000 to assist first-home buyers with a 5% deposit, National's broader housing strategy relies heavily on private market supply incentives, infrastructure funding, and RMA (Resource Management Act) reform to drive down construction costs. * **Rental Market Settings:** National has favored maintaining standard market rental frameworks, having previously restored 90-day no-resume/no-cause flexibility for landlords to encourage private rental stock availability, balancing property investor incentives against tenant regulation. **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori / Other Parties** Minor parties generally advocate for stronger market interventions on behalf of low-income renters. * **Rent Controls & Warrants of Fitness:** The Green Party typically campaigns on implementing strict rent controls (such as limiting annual rent increases) and mandating an independently enforced, legally binding Rental Warrant of Fitness to guarantee warm, dry conditions. * **Social Housing Supply:** Progressive and minor parties generally emphasize large-scale state and public housing construction targets rather than relying on private-market solutions, alongside boosting income support and benefit indexing to keep pace with accommodation costs. * * * _Note: For specific eligibility criteria on assistance like the Accommodation Supplement or Working for Families adjustments that tie into your part-time work hours, you can review individual party manifestos or use tools likePolicy.nz to compare party positions side-by-side._ ## AI Overviews Answer ID: d2be0e7a-8381-4093-b2c1-f222a602af7c For the **2026 New Zealand general election** , political parties have put forward distinct proposals addressing **rental security and financial housing support** for low-income families. Here is how the major parties propose to address secure tenancies and housing costs for renting families at the national level: Rental Security & Tenancy Rules Party| No-Cause Evictions| Rental Quality & Standards| Notice Periods & Inspections ---|---|---|--- **Labour**| **Promises to ban no-cause evictions**. Landlords must provide a valid, lawful reason to end a tenancy.| **Strengthens Healthy Homes Standards** , mandating proper curtains/blinds and an ongoing landlord "duty of care" for serious hazards.| **Extends landlord notice periods** to 63 days if they/their family move in, and 90 days for sales/renovations. Limits routine inspections to once every 6 months. **Green Party**| **Promises to reverse no-cause evictions** to ensure long-term rental stability.| **Introduces a Rental Warrant of Fitness** to enforce minimum safety and health rules, alongside tighter Healthy Homes requirements.| Requires tenancies to default to **long-term or permanent agreements**. Implements a mandatory register for all landlords and property managers. **National** (Current Coalition)| **Maintains the use of no-cause evictions** , which they reinstated during their parliamentary term.| Focuses on **reducing regulatory compliance costs** for private landlords to encourage property investment and supply.| Intends to keep current tenancy laws steady to support a **flexible private rental market**. * * * Housing Costs & Financial Support * **National (Coalition Government Proposals):** * **Accommodation Supplement Adjustments:** The National-led Coalition proposed a fiscally neutral rebalancing of welfare settings in their **Budget 2026**. This includes **increasing the Accommodation Supplement** for low-income individuals renting in the private market. * **Social Housing Changes:** The package simultaneously increases income-related rents for state housing tenants from 25% to 30% of income, alongside lowering the maximum allowable payments for Temporary Additional Support (TAS). * **Provider Focus:** National plans to fund additional social housing places by shifting delivery emphasis and funding toward **Community Housing Providers (CHPs)** rather than Kāinga Ora. * **Labour Party:** * **Rent Cap in Public Housing:** Pledges to **keep state and community housing rents capped at 25%** of a tenant’s income. * **Social Housing Build:** Pledges to expand public housing by constructing **at least 6,000 additional social homes** over four years. * **Rent-to-Buy Pathways:** Proposes a pathway for employed Kāinga Ora tenants paying market rates to transition to homeownership. The state would credit $100 per week of their rent into a trust fund over roughly five years to build a 5% home deposit. * **Green Party:** * **Rent Controls:** Proposes a strict **2% annual cap on rent increases** , or capping them at whichever is lower between inflation and average wage growth. * **Mass Public Housing Build:** Proposes building **tens of thousands of new, energy-efficient public homes** to reduce the social housing waitlist and alleviate low-income rental stress. * * * If you would like to explore this further, let me know: * If you want details on **childcare subsidy changes** (like Work and Income thresholds or FamilyBoost) proposed by these parties. * If you want to look into specific **Working for Families** or tax credit adjustments that affect part-time workers. I can break down those specific policies next.