Auckland landlords are calling for greater scrutiny of overseas property buyers to address the stress they are creating on the Auckland housing market.

The Auckland Property Investors' Association President Andrew Bruce suggests there is anecdotal evidence of foreigners buying up property here and leaving it vacant.

"If it genuinely is the case that a huge amount of overseas money is coming in here and just buying up properties and leaving them vacant, like some people suggest, that's obviously an issue."

Bruce holds that if unfettered foreign ownership of our properties continues to be unchecked, we will be in danger of creating another bogey monster that will haunt the Auckland property market for years to come.

"We try and get a return off the money - i.e. rent the properties out and get tenants in there so you're buying a home for someone. But they're just buying something and leaving properties vacant. That's not really achieving a lot for New Zealand."