In a recent AA Insurance Home Survey, which interviewed 500 landlords throughout New Zealand, almost 90% were concerned that tenants might damage their investment property. This was followed by the possibility of missing rent payments (88%) and then contamination of the property by consumption or production of illegal drugs (87%). Yet over the past 12 months to 31 May 2016, the most common type of landlord claim is for accidental loss or damage to property (25%) for such things as a hole in the wall or stain on the carpet, not for intentional damage. The average cost for insurance claims from landlords is $3,000.
In the latter months of 2015, Massey University reported an improvement in home affordability across the nation. This trend has continued, however, the past three months to June show a significant reversal (9.2%).
The latest monthly QV House Price Index shows that nationwide residential property values for June have increased 13.5% over the past year. Values rose by 5.6% over the past three months and are now 42.6% above the previous market peak of late 2007. When adjusted for inflation the nationwide annual increase drops slightly to 13.0% and values are now 21.6% above the 2007 peak. The average value nationwide is now $590,909.
The Auckland market has increased 16.1% year on year and 4.7% over the past three months. Values there are now 78.4% higher than the previous peak of 2007. When adjusted for inflation values rose 15.6% over the past year and are 52.1% above the 2007 peak. The average value in the Auckland region is now $975,087.
CHA have made a submission on the Exposure Draft of the Incorporated Societies Bill.
Can you build an affordable house in Auckland? Media debate suggests that rising construction and land costs, together with the costs of meeting planning regulations, are making this extremely difficult. The debate, however, largely rests on either anecdotal evidence or modelled data. No-one has taken a good look at the actual costs of constructing affordable housing.
Beacon and NZIER have set out to provide a firm empirical basis for understanding the costs of delivering affordable new builds. Focusing only on Auckland (the plan is to extend this work to other areas in time), they gathered cost data from five builders / developers, covering 69 affordable and social homes built in 2015.
The Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2) (HHG2) follows on the heels of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (RTA). Community Housing Aotearoa have made a submission on this bill.
For the last six years the NZCCSS Vulnerability Report has tracked the experiences of the families affected by the impacts of the global financial crisis and the organisations that work alongside them. "A ‘new normal’ of desperation to find housing, food and sufficient income to survive has emerged for many families”, says Trevor McGlinchey New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Executive Officer. “The members’ reports clearly demonstrate the huge complexity of client needs and the ever-increasing demand for social services”.
The median weekly rent across New Zealand continued to climb steadily in the year to May, but growth was slower than last month according to the latest Trade Me Property Rental Index. Head of Trade Me Property Nigel Jeffries said the median weekly rent increased 4.8 per cent over the year to land at $440 in May. “Kiwi tenants are having to dig deeper – typically their rental property is costing them $1000 more per annum than it was a year ago. Markets like Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Northland are all experiencing very strong demand for rental properties.”
This is a great article from the New Zealand Policy Quarterly ( Volume 12, Issue 2 – May 2016) written by Peter Dykes giving an overview of social housing policy in New Zealand. The article is based on a research paper submitted as part of the requirements for a
Master of Public Policy degree through the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington.
This paper explores the changes in tenure patterns (home ownership and renting) between 1986 and 2013, but focuses particularly on changes within the Māori and Pacific populations.