Woman’s ‘frightening’ house hunt
A beneficiary fears she could be forced onto the street as the dire rental market in her hometown edges her to hopelessness.
Noeline Price, 57, has until October 28 to find a new home in Feilding.
She has expanded her search to Hawke’s Bay, Waikato and Whanganui, in an attempt to find a two-bedroom home for under $300 a week.
Price’s existing landlord intends to rent to family, forcing her to look elsewhere. But, in an overcrowded market, she isn’t having any luck.
‘‘I’ve applied for dozens and haven’t been successful so far. It’s getting a little frightening and I’m now really spinning out.’’
Despite managing 1400 properties in the region, Property Brokers last week didn’t have a single home available for rent in Feilding.
Rental manager Robin Congdon said changes in tax laws, such as capital gains, and additional compliance rules, were putting investors off.
In September, Property Brokers leased 51 properties at an average rent of $326. It received over 1600 enquiries, carried out 94 viewings for 443 tenants, and processed 83 applications.
‘‘There has been high demand for a number of years. In [the past two years] the number of properties under management declined in Manawatu¯ . This has stabilised in the last six months, but numbers are still not back to previous levels.’’
Bayleys real estate agent Michael Ford said there was one two-bedroom flat on Denbigh St for rent at $300 a week. He was aware of another block of four two-bedroom homes where rents were $240 and $260 a week, but they weren’t currently available.
‘‘It will be possible to find twobedroom flats for under $300, but not easy, and prospective tenants may have to wait a while.’’
It’s left Price fearing she could be forced out of her hometown or, worse, left homeless.
Disabilities prevent her from getting to many viewings and she is reliant on public transport.
She has rehomed one of her cats and is trying to find a home for another in a bid to be more appealing to property managers.
Her pets are her only company and parting ways is the last resort.
‘‘The thought of having to let my animals go scares me. They’ve sort of always been there for me.
‘‘I look online every day ... but I don’t want to live in the middle of nowhere, where I don’t have any support networks. I’m part of the Feilding hub and community.
‘‘I’m just very worried now. I’m a survivor, I’ve always been a survivor, and I’ve lived in some pretty dire places over the years,
‘‘The thought of having to let my animals go scares me. They’ve sort of always been there for me.’’ Noeline Price
but it’s now getting quite frightening to see the difficulties getting a rental with the minimal money I have.’’
Work and Income New Zealand said the best they could do was add her to the waiting list and, at a last resort, fund her to stay in a motel.
Price receives $380 a week, plus a $75 accommodation supplement. She said she is left with about $50 for food each week after rent and bills are paid.