‘Heartbreaking’
Renters struggle to find homes as prices hit new record
“Heartbreaking” and “tear-jerking” is how some agencies have described the plight of many renters who need a home. The news follows reports rents in the Bay of Plenty have hit a new record, with experts warning demand for property
2021.
Data from Trade Me reveals the median weekly rent in Tauranga in November jumped to $560, a 7 per cent increase on the same month last year. In Rotorua over the same timeframe, the median rent was $450 compared to $440.
Tauranga Rentals owner Dan Lusby said the renting situation in the city was dire and he could not see it improving next year.
The company had three houses for
will
only
increase
in rent but those would be gone by tomorrow as it had an ever-growing waiting list.
Some houses did not even make it to the market due to the line-up of good candidates.
Lusby said returning expats and houses not being built fast enough were contributing to the supplyand-demand issue.
Meanwhile, his properly managers were constantly dealing with desperate people who had “heartbreaking” stories.
“We have been social workers and budget advisers for a long time . . . that is just part of our job. It can be very stressful for our property managers. Some people come in and tell you their whole story and unfortunately, we can’t accommodate a lot of them.
“It’s really sad and tear-jerking.”
A four-bedroom house in Tauranga in a good location could fetch $700, while Lusby had seen others advertised at more than $800.
Rotorua Rentals director Pauline Evans said some desperate tenants became abusive when her firm could not find them a home.
“They do upset us when we are powerless to help, especially those with young children if they have poor credit, high debts, bad attitude and
We just cannot help
every deserving applicant, and we do get abused for
that. Rotorua Rentals director Pauline Evans
previous tribunal orders against them, they will struggle anywhere.
“We just cannot help every deserving applicant, and we do get abused for that.”
Rents had continued to rise due to demand for good rental homes.
“It can be very stressful for applicants — and frustrating for us too.”
A four-bedroom house in Rotorua could now easily start at $550 per week — two years ago it would have rented for $400-plus.
“As an industry, wedo worry about soaring rents, we simply do not know how much higher rents can go or where it will stop.”
Simon Anderson, managing director of the Realty Group Limited, which operates Eves and Bayleys, said the Bay of Plenty was facing a rental shortage.
“If you are in a rental property now I’d suggest you look after it and look after your landlord because if you move from there is might be quite difficult to get somewhere else.”
Anderson said landlords wanted a tenant who cared for the property as they wanted their investment to be protected.
It was not unusual for a house in Tauranga to attract 40 quality applicants but the company had noticed landlords were also being responsible around adjustments to rental charges and not taking the greedy approach.
He could not see demand levelling off in 2021.
Rotorua Budget Advisory Service manager Pakanui Tuhura said between 70 and 85 per cent of the service’s clients were in rental accommodation and many were struggling