Tenancy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 10

Tenancy

Sir, —In Thursday’s issue, the Attorney-General mentions two laws he claims will protect leaseholders at Stewart’s Gully. Surely he realises that, since the removal of the Tenancy Act from properties, which includes land leased for residential use, no tenant on leasehold ground, anywhere in New Zealand, has any protection whatsoever, once his term of lease has expired. Before November, 1964, the Act gave protection to both landlord and tenant, but now the landlord cpn refuse to renew the lease, may

evict the tenant without reason, and can actually claim the tenant’s house, without compensation, because it is on his land, while the tenant has no redress, and cannot even defend a claim for possession. Obviously what Mr Mathison meant by his question was not what protection has the leaseholder, but what security has the tenant once his lease expires, as all leases do eventually.—Yours, etc., H. S. BUTCHER.

June 11, 1966. [The Attorney-General (Mr Hanan) replies: “The question to be answered related solely to the protection the Property Law Act would give to Stewart’s Gully lessees. As intimated, that would be the same protection given to any other lessees under similar leases. It would not extend beyond the terms of the leases and has no relation whatsoever to the Tenancy Act. In the event of conflict between the parties, the rights of the parties would need to be determined by the Court according to the circumstances." ]