Housing Minister Phil Twyford says he will look into claims that state housing tenants are renting out rooms on Airbnb.
National Party MP Simon O'Connor said during Question Time today that Phil Twyford should already be aware of this taking place.
"Is it acceptable to him that state housing tenants are currently renting out their houses on Airbnb?" Mr O'Connor asked.
Mr Twyford replied that he wasn't aware they were but is "happy to look into it".
It was then that the National MP suggested he should already know about the matter.
"How can he not be aware if his officials advised the social services select committee that this is definitively the case," Mr O'Connor said.
Mr Twyford stood firm that he wasn't made aware of the issue.
"I was aware that MSD officials talked about the effect of Airbnb on regional housing and housing demand, but I was not aware that housing NZ tenants were leasing out properties out houses on Airbnb," Mr Twyford responded.
Mr O'Connor continued to press the matter asking: "Will he be taking any steps to stop this happening and if so how?"
"I will certainly be looking into it," Mr Twyford replied.
Shortly after the debate in Parliament Mr Twyford posted a tweet stating the only example of a state housing tenant renting out a property on Airbnb he could find happened when National was in power.
The claims come as some Airbnb hosts say they are going to leave the online accommodation service as a result of a new Auckland Council tax.
The council has introduced a new targeted rate for online accommodation providers to bring them in line with hotels and motels.
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