Opinion: Landlords say tax loophole is 'bribe' to switch to social housing

Hard working tenants could bear the brunt of tax loophole that favours social housing. Photo / Getty Images

Our Premium network subscribers have their say. Have yours by going to rotoruadailypost.co.nz and becoming a Premium subscriber.

To read full stories, click on the headlines below.

Landlords: 'Working class' could be kicked out as tax loophole favours social housing

A real-world example - I own a property rented out for $395 per week and since the tax changes the property manager put it up to $470 per week. It's not hugely leveraged, you haven't been able to do that for years, but I will make less money than before - all the extra rent paid will go straight to the Government.
- David C

The debate about this issue misses the key point. New Zealand needs a capital gains tax on any property beyond the family home. This would create a level-playing field, secure tax that could be put into supporting social housing and eventually allow NZ to resolve its housing crisis.
-Steve J

Capital gains tax is only payable when you sell, so all it does is discourage people from selling. The upshot is no tax collected and even higher property prices because there's even less property available to buy. It still baffles me why people keep making that bland statement about capital gains taxes creating a level playing field. It's just wrong.
-Guy S

If the Government really cared about the poor and working-class renters they would not have removed interest deductibility. Scoring cheap political points might fool the naive but people in the industry can see the results of these policies in real-time. A good example is the approx 7.8 per cent increase in new rents, according to "official " inflation figures.
- Simon A

I've been commenting on this for months. Our rental property got offered an exemption to take an emergency housing family. I can see more of this happening closer to the election to bring down emergency housing numbers, thus reducing available rental stock for the private market.
- Jan W

Investors should be supported for providing social housing as we are in a housing crisis for low income earners. The Government policy on interest deductibility should be changed but the argument they outline is not supporting their cause.
-Mike I

Kiwibuild - 100,000 new homes four-plus years ago - a promised policy. What happened? Have we hit 1000 yet, or one per cent?
-Anthony C