The latest Ministry of Social Development figures show there were 642 applicants waiting for public housing across Taranaki in December 2020, up on 523 applicants in the previous quarter. Put off by some aspects of the new tenancy laws, landlords were now selling their rental properties, Hight, who has been in the sector for 20 years, said. Other landlords have been prompted by the skyrocketing house prices to cash in their rentals. “Our rental portfolios are getting smaller but the number of tenants are growing. “How are we going to house them?” The latest changes to the Residential Tenancies Act came into effect last month and are aimed at providing more security and power for tenants.