Tenancy initiative sparks interest from volunteers
A tenancy service aimed to help tenants and landlords communicate is set to go ahead after receiving multiple volunteering offers over 24 hours.
Tenancy Link has been organised by Anglican Care South Canterbury social justice advocate Ruth Swale to prevent minor issues between tenants and landlords being heard at the Tenancy Tribunal.
Swale said Tenancy Link ‘‘is no longer just a proposal, it’s a new initiative Anglican Care South Canterbury is running with’’.
She encouraged people interested in the initiative, which is an offshoot of the Advocacy Group, to contact her using social media on Monday.
‘‘A couple of people’’ have already replied and Swale hoped to meet with them soon.
Tenants could be ‘‘afraid of rocking the boat’’ by bringing up issues with their landlords, while landlords could be frustrated if they felt they had tried to offer suggestions but were ignored. It aimed to help tenants and landlords see issues from another perspective with the support of a social advocate, Swale said.
South Canterbury Property Investors Association president Kerry Beveridge said opening up communication between landlords and tenants was important to avoid misinterpretation and frustration.
‘‘A lot of members’’ had given input into the issues at an association meeting last week.
Sometimes tenants did not want to talk to landlords, and vice versa, without support, he said.
Beveridge, who is a landlord, said he has heard about maintenance issues via other people rather than directly from the tenant at times. ‘‘It’s good to have an option rather than have to go down the formal route.’’
Swale said she would have been ‘‘pushing [the project] uphill’’ if she had not received support.
She would arrange a public meeting for tenants to gauge interest next month.