A Statistics New Zealand survey shows, perhaps not surprisingly, that renters aren’t as happy with their housing as homeowners.
According to the 2018 General Social Survey 2018, one in in three New Zealand households currently rent their homes. Renters fare worse over all of the aspects of housing quality measured, reporting higher rates of cold, mould, dampness, and poorly maintained dwellings.
The survey asked New Zealanders a range of questions about their homes, along with questions on a broad range of wellbeing measures. Kiwis were asked about their satisfaction with their housing, how affordable it was, and if they faced issues such as dampness and mould.
“Our latest data showed nine out of 10 New Zealanders were satisfied with their housing, reporting that it was very suitable (44.3%) or suitable (45%),” senior analyst Rosemary Goodyear says.
“However, only a third of renters (31.8%) thought their house was very suitable, compared to half of homeowners (50.9%).”
The survey asked people to rate their housing affordability on a scale from 0 (very unaffordable) to 10 (very affordable). They were also asked to include all housing costs such as rates, insurance, and utility bills as well as rent or mortgage payments.
“A tenth of New Zealanders rated their housing as unaffordable (0-3). This was mainly people who rented their home (14.2%), compared to owners (8%),” Goodyear says.
“Auckland was by far the most unaffordable region, with both renters and owners in Auckland more likely to report their housing costs as unaffordable (with 13.2% rating it as 0-3).”
Renters were also more likely to report that they did not have enough money for everyday needs (16.9% compared to 6.4% of owner occupiers).
The survey also found those who rent their homes were also more mobile, with close to a third having lived in their house for less than one year.
20 Comments
It's always nice to have aspirations such as getting away from renting - and onto the property ladder.
Nonetheless, I agree with all the regulations that government is introducing to improve the standard of residential investment properties.......
NOBODY should be living in a cold, damp dwelling.
TTP
I agree with you. Definately the Landlord should take responsibility with that, or the Property Manager as well. If everybody is doing their job and acting like Landlords and Managers, then Tenants should be completely within their rights to live in a healthy home. Healthiness is wealthiness too and they fork out rent every week.
Dissatisfaction is not always about mould. We have a perfectly insulated home that we make sure we air, use a dehumidifier and clean consistently. However, for $770 a week we have to put up with our neighbours and their four extremely noisy children that live beneath us in a 3 bedroom flat. We also don't get to enjoy the garden as this is right in front of their bedrooms.
B L,
A4 paper measures 20cms by 25cms,so mould with a greater dimension is significant. Thus,just cleaning it would achieve nothing,without addressing the underlying cause. "So easy to complain". Any tenant facing a mould problem has EVERY right to complain-and i am a landlord.
I will be blunt; think your attitude is disgraceful.
“Auckland was by far the most unaffordable region, with both renters and owners in Auckland more likely to report their housing costs as unaffordable (with 13.2% rating it as 0-3).”
I'm surprised "only" 13% think the houses they live in are unaffordable in Auckland, I think many commenters on this site will be very surprised too?
Well we at least went below half of people owning their own homes in 2014: https://www.interest.co.nz/property/69025/census-figures-show-home-owne…
I don't believe that a survey like this can be taken very seriously at all. Once you own your own home. No matter what its like its your own home! Its different! Very few are going to say its poorly maintained because it will always be a work in progress. Your own priorities come into it eg house vs saving to go to the dentist etc. So it may be cold in there but you may not prioritize warmth. Or just blast it with the fire going full bore...
Whereas if you are renting you will complain about everything especially to a survey.
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