Thousands of Bay of Plenty households could benefit from the Green renters' bill launched today by the Green Party.

The bill would bring New Zealand's outdated rental laws up to speed and improve the lives of the 29,280 Bay of Plenty renters.

Photo: File.

The new bill was placed into the Members' ballot today by Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

The Residential Tenancies (Warm, Safe, Secure Rentals) Amendment Bill is intended to update New Zealand's rental laws to create minimum standards around warmth, dryness and safety for all rental houses.

It would also make practical, sensible changes to tenancy agreements so that renters and landlords can have a more balanced and transparent relationship.

'Renting is a reality for more than a million New Zealanders now,” says Turei.

'We need new, modern laws that recognise renters aren't second-class citizens and allow families to put down roots in their communities.”

The proportion of Bay of Plenty renting households has increased by 54.5 percent since 1991 – the largest increase in the country.

At the 2013 census, 30.9 percent of Bay of Plenty households were renting compared with 20 percent in 1991.

'My Bill creates minimum standards for rentals, so that families can live in warm, safe homes, and encourages long-term, secure tenancies,” she adds.

Rights and responsibilities work both ways, she says. The Bill aims to create more great landlords and great tenants, and encourage transparency in their relationship with one another and their rental agreements.

The Green Party anticipates widespread Parliamentary support for this Bill.

'There's no reason why politicians should object to bringing our tenancy regulations into the 21st century,” says Turei.

'We need to shift the culture of our rental market towards long term, secure leases that give people a chance to build a home, rather than just live in a house.”