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

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

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

The reality is yes some landlords will say enough is enough and sell. Others though will look at the average cost of this policy which is around $3000 per property and pass that cost on to the tenant. Either way, it's a dumb policy that will disadvantage renters.
-Richard T

Another rent increase for the working class, it's ironic that all the Government changes brought in to smack landlords around have caused rents to rise and rise and the supply of properties shrink and shrink. It's an assault on the working class again who Labour generally despise anyway, rent rises and gangs for neighbours.
- David C

This is indeed morally indefensible. No landlord should be entitled to this ridiculous loophole. Time for them to get off the gravy train.
-Steve E

Correct, landlords have been on the gravy train for years. A wage earner gets no tax deductibility. Landlords have got to realise they are running a business, and businesses pay tax.
-Miles J

Well, the real gravy train is the untaxed capital gains though! I have moved right away from providing social housing due to the constant stress relating to property damage and family problems. The removal of the tax break is not really an issue. I thought I might have been able to make a difference. I was wrong.
-Nicholas B

Some people have got out of rental properties, but the vast majority are trying to keep providing homes for tenants. The NZ Property Investors Federation has said for many years that the multiple law changes like removing the ability to claim mortgage interest as a tax deduction would cause unnecessary rental price increases and this is exactly what has happened.
-Andrew K

Good on the Government for trying to get new houses built. If it forces investors out of the market for used houses good! It doesn't necessarily mean they have to build social housing, it doesn't even mean they have to build rentals. Once again we have an article that deals in emotion and looks at an issue from a narrow, biased position. I have yet to see any definitive data that backs up all the claims of the last couple of years that investors are going to sell off all their property and desert the rental market.
-Christine W