PHOTO: KEVIN STENT/STUFF Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson on Monday announced that the country will go into lockdown on Wednesday.
For many New Zealanders, their rent or mortgage payments are one of the biggest items in their budgets.
So with the prospect of a nationwide lockdown for at least the next four weeks, many are worried about how they will continue to make the payments to keep the rooves over their heads.
Here’s a summary of what help is available – and where you might be affected.
A rent freeze will take effect, which means landlords will not be able to increase your rent.
Nick Tuffley, chief economist at ASB, said it would be helpful for people who had pressure on their income and would start to struggle.
Sharon Cullwick, executive officer of the New Zealand Property Investors Federation, said landlords supported the move. The only problems would be for those who were keeping rent artificially low for what was meant to be a short period, such as if they were doing work on a property.
The Government has also said it will look to “extend no-cause terminations” and more details of that will become available in the coming days.
It is understood that will mean people will not be able to be evicted for not paying rent.
READ MORE VIA STUFF