Last week, you might have caught the latest Nigel Latta documentary on TV One which focussed on housing in New Zealand and its apparent shortfalls. This was just one episode in a series of documentaries delving into New Zealand’s key social issues.
In the episode last week, he interviews a couple who, having recently emigrated from Rarotonga, are living in a substandard property in South Auckland because it was the only available property they could afford. Riddled with cockroaches and with no outdoor space for their three-year-old son, this property ate up 75% of their income and yet failed to meet their needs as a young family living in New Zealand.
We know that there is a shortage of good housing in New Zealand, and this is further highlighted by Latta’s documentary stating that rental stock in New Zealand is old, not well maintained and doesn’t meet the needs of the Kiwi lifestyle. According to this documentary, more than three-quarters of rentals in New Zealand are mouldy and damp and have no form of heating. A worrying mention is that half of Kiwi kids under five years of age live in a rental property that doesn’t meet World Health Organisation standards for rental accommodation.
We know that there is demand for good quality rental properties that are well maintained, warm and well ventilated. The properties that ‘stick’ in the letting process are those that are either over-priced or lack in features that tenants deem important.
We talk to tenants every day and this weekend one customer was chatting to our head Property Manager about the lack of choice and quality available in the area. This tenant of ours has a decent budget, is a working professional and is seeking a rental property that is warm, well ventilated, tastefully decorated and has easy, straightforward access. After a weekend of attending open homes, she is frustrated and still looking for a long term rental.
Although the rental warrant of fitness hasn’t yet come to fruition, we are confident that recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will make a significant impact on the quality of housing stock in the near future. Those properties that are well maintained will be snapped up by long term tenants and those that aren’t will sit until they reach the required standard for our new generation of long time renters.
‘Generation Rent’ is the name for those who aren’t on the housing continuum yet. It now takes an average of 8 years for an Auckland couple to save the deposit for their first home, so let’s find a positive way to take care of our quality, long term tenants. There are good stories to tell, we just need good landlords to help us tell them.
Christian Casbolt – Oxygen GM
