Picture a landlord in Auckland. Their coffee is going cold on the kitchen table. They’re reading about the Resource Management Act overhaul. They agree it’s needed. They’ve been calling for it for years. But as they read, more questions pop up than answers. When will the new rules take effect? How will they interact with existing rules? What will it cost? Will any of it survive the next election?
The problem isn’t the idea of reform. It’s the lack of clear information.
In our latest Landlord Confidence and Policy Sentiment Survey, 82 percent of respondents said they would be more willing to support reforms, even ones they initially disagree with, if the government provided clearer data and explanations. That level of agreement is unusual in a sector with so many different viewpoints. It’s not about resisting change. It’s about knowing what’s changing, why, and how.
Sarina Gibbon, General Manager of APIA, says confidence is the foundation every investment rests on. “The RMA overhaul is a major reset that was long overdue. You can’t rip out and rebuild the rules without creating some noise. But investors don’t fear noise, they fear silence. If you want capital to commit, you have to show your working. Publish the numbers, walk us through the logic, and tell us how you’ll measure success. Anything less is asking people to fly blind with millions of dollars on the line.”
Transparency costs almost nothing but can change how people invest. Without it, landlords hold back. They delay maintenance, put off expansion, and keep cash on the sidelines. With it, they can plan with more certainty, take on projects, and put more homes into the rental market.
“This isn’t about who’s in power,” Gibbon adds. “Some parties lean more toward private investment, but the data tells us investors care more about stability than political colour. Certainty of the rules matters more than who’s writing them. That’s the paradox. Stability attracts capital, and capital is what builds homes. If you want more houses, stop turning housing policy into a political season ticket and start treating it like national infrastructure. Make it boring, make it predictable, and you’ll get results.”
Transparency isn’t a new idea. Investors expect it from their accountants, contractors, and lenders. Yet in housing policy, one of the most important investment environments in the country, it’s still treated as optional.
That’s risky. Housing policy has become a political tug-of-war, with each election threatening to rewrite the rules. Without transparency, trust fades and every reform feels like a gamble instead of a public good.
If policymakers want to turn that 82 percent willingness into real support, the steps are simple. Show the evidence before legislating. Make the data behind the decisions public. Ask for feedback before locking things in.
Landlords aren’t asking for special treatment. They just want the same consideration any professional expects before signing a major contract: know what you’re agreeing to, why it’s needed, and how it will be measured.
APIA’s message is clear: If housing reform is going to last longer than one election cycle, transparency has to be the base it’s built on.
Be part of the conversation. Join APIA to stay ahead of policy changes, have a voice in the decisions that shape your investments, and connect with a community committed to a stronger, fairer rental market. Become a member today or register for our next event to see the full survey results and what they mean for your investment strategy.
Add Comment