IRD adamant on depreciation

After two years of consultation, Inland Revenue is refusing to budge from its view that owners of residential rental properties cannot depreciate assets - such as plumbing, wiring and kitchen joinery - faster than the actual buildings they are in.
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Cullen looks at changing tax laws for investment properties

The Government is looking at removing a tax advantage for those who own rental properties.
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Floating rates rise, but some others fall

Floating interest rates moved up in the last week in reaction to the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate rise, while some three-year fixed rates dropped.
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Outlook for rate changes low

The past week has been a relatively quiet one for rate changes in the home loan market. Also the latest figures from the Reserve Bank, released yesterday, show that the volume of lending is declining.
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BNZ changes its mortgage offering

The Bank of New Zealand has revamped its mortgage offering as part of its spring campaign.
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Residential Tenancies

ACT – Reforms In a speech to Wellington property investors (25 September) the Minister for Building & Housing Clayton Cosgrove highlighted some key reforms planned for the Residential Tenancies Act.
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Landlords against tenancy changes

Landlords are opposing a law change that aims to protect tenants from being financially disadvantaged if a flatmate causes damage to a rental property.
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Mortgage repayment plans get cautious welcome

Plans by the Government to allow homeowners to use the KiwiSaver savings scheme to help pay off their mortgages have had a cautious welcome from lenders and advisers.
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Banks consider cutting commissions

New Zealand's mortgage broking industry could be facing a crisis as banks confirm that they are preparing to cut the commissions they pay brokers.
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Inquiry into the Future Monetary Policy Framework

Written submissions to the inquiry into alternative ways to control inflation closed during the month (19 July).
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Online bank users locked out

Planning to check the rents online today?
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Action on housing needed now, not later

The Government's new housing strategy is a step in the right direction but leaves a number of questions unanswered, Green Party Housing Spokesperson Sue Bradford says.
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House price inflation accelerates

House price inflation accelerated yet again in September, continuing the trend shown since March, according to the latest Quotable Value figures.
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Insurance plan will push up rents 3/5/06 National Party

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is urging Labour not to push up rents for struggling families renting in the private sector.
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International forces driving rate increases

Trends in international interest rates are setting the pace for New Zealand borrowers this week.
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Housing tax advantage a myth - IRD

Inland Revenue says it is a myth that investments in housing have a tax advantage over other types of investment.
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Estate agents see feast for lawyers under new rules

Anne Gibson reports that consumers may need to arm themselves with lawyers to do battle against rich real estate agents and their firms under the new system unveiled by the Government yesterday.
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United Future MP breaks ranks

United Future MP Marc Alexander has breached his party's policy of not saying which party it would prefer to coalesce with after the election by nailing his colours to National.
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Rental housing changes would drive landlords away

Proposed changes to rental housing laws could make the housing shortage worse by driving people away from owning rental properties, says National's Housing spokesman, Phil Heatley.
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Tenancy Tribunal application forms change on June 19

The Department of Building and Housing is changing its Tenancy Tribunal forms to make it easier for you to lodge an application.
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2006 Conference

The Minister of Building Issues, Clayton Cosgrove, gave the opening address at this year’s annual Conference.
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Houses unaffordable

First home buyers were literally shut out of home ownership through record unaffordability in August, according to a survey released yesterday.
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Leave landlords alone

Who the hell does Andrew King of the Auckland Property Investors Association think he, is representing? Not me, for sure. He is just another suit who wants to control my life.
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Kiwibank tries to stir some action

Kiwibank made the most interesting change to its home loan rates last week, dropping its five-year rate a full 51 basis points to 6.99%.
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Tenants keep state homes without paying rent

Thousands of late-paying state house tenants - some owing thousands of dollars in rent - are continuing to live in taxpayer-subsidised properties despite being nearly $2 million in debt.
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