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​​​​​Drawing the line – how many state houses do we need?

​​​​​Drawing the line – how many state houses do we need?

Alan Johnson, Social Policy Director at The Salvation Army in NZ, presented at an Australasian Housing Insititute event in Auckland on Thursday 21st July. Alan's presentation provided a critique of the Government’s stance that the overall numbers of state housing should reduce to 60,000 by 2017. He argued that the provision of state housing should be based on the type and extent of need and a clear understanding of the interventions required to address this need.
​It’s renters versus the rest

​It’s renters versus the rest

The latest HRV State of Home Survey has found mould is prevalent in almost half of New Zealand’s rental homes and renters take more sick days than the national average. Some landlords are refusing to address tenants concerns about the cold, damp and mouldy state of their homes with 56% of property owners doing nothing when contacted about housing issues by tenants.
New Zealand housing and the United Nations sustainable development goals

New Zealand housing and the United Nations sustainable development goals

The United Nations has identified 17 global goals for sustainable development to achieve transformational change throughout the world by 2030. These goals include ending poverty and hunger and the things we would want to see in a fair and equitable world. They also include 169 targets. So how does this affect New Zealand’s community housing sector?
Building a model for alternative procurement

Building a model for alternative procurement

CHA asked Deloitte to assist with setting out an alternative model for community housing provider involvement in stock transfers that delivers on several fronts:​​ a local response to delivery; improved tenant choice across the housing continuum; increases supply of both social and affordable housing; and is phased to support provider growth and builds capacity. We need member feedback on this please.
AA home insurance survey has some interesting findings

AA home insurance survey has some interesting findings

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.
Massey University Housing Affordability report June 2016

Massey University Housing Affordability report June 2016

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%).
House price index show a surge in investor activity

House price index show a surge in investor activity

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.
NZCCSS vulnerability report 2009-2016

NZCCSS vulnerability report 2009-2016

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”.
CHA submission on Incorporated Societies Act

CHA submission on Incorporated Societies Act

CHA have made a submission on the Exposure Draft of the Incorporated Societies Bill.
CHA submission on Healthy Homes Bill June 2016

CHA submission on Healthy Homes Bill June 2016

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.
Cost tower: Construction costs of social and affordable houses, Auckland 2015

Cost tower: Construction costs of social and affordable houses, Auckland 2015

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.
Kiwis paying $1000 more a year to rent

Kiwis paying $1000 more a year to rent

​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.”