Council wants to compete with Trade Me?

The Press reports:

A Christchurch City councillor hopes the Government will set up a national register of residential rental properties, as a local scheme could prove too costly.

In March, councillors voted unanimously to explore options for setting up a register in the city.

It was the idea of the Tenants Protection Association and part of measures being considered to help address the city’s rental accommodation shortage.

Council housing committee chairman Cr Glenn Livingstone said the register could cost up to $1.5 million a year, which would be offset by charging registration fees.

Would be a total waste of money.

Trade Me is our effective register of properties.

The register would contain information on the availability of rental properties, whether houses were fit to live in, and on which landlords and agencies were charging letting and renewal fees.

People want to know what it will cost them, not if someone is on commission. And whether a house is fit to live in is something they generally like to decide for themselves by viewing it.