Renting Situations for University Students in New Zealand: February 22, 2022

The state of renting in New Zealand has been an important discussion for the past few years. While rent prices continue to increase due to the ongoing housing crisis and high demand, the quality of rentals has remained largely the same. Many renters across New Zealand, especially university students and first-time renters find themselves living in uninsulated and unsafe flats which cost hundreds of dollars a week. Many landlords and property managers in New Zealand do not properly maintain the properties they are renting out to the Healthy Homes Standards which became law in 2019. Despite this, many renters have to stick it out in what are considered to be unhealthy living conditions due to the high demand for renting in New Zealand.

Emily Bell spoke to three university students from across the country about their experiences flatting and flat hunting for the first time, and the changes they would like to see. She also chatted to Green Party MP and spokesperson for renters Chlöe Swarbrick about the power imbalance between renters and landlords and what can be done to improve this. Finally, Emily spoke to Anna Bykova who is a spokesperson for the advocacy group Renters United. Renters United aims to raise awareness and aid those who are experiencing unfair renting situations.

If you would like to fill out the Green Party’s survey regarding renting as well as see what ideas they have to improve renting in New Zealand, you can go to greens.org.nz/reasonable_rents 

If you are interested in learning more about Renters United’s  Plan to Fix Renting or want to show support to them by donating, you can find all this information on their website at rentersunited.org.nz