Tenants Protection Association Rental Survey Report
A survey carried out by Tenants Protection Association (ChCh) on
rent increases and housing conditions has found that over
85% of tenants in the region are being negatively affected by rent
increases.
"Tenants can't afford to pay for power bills, food, petrol, or
going to the doctor. They can't afford to find more suitable
housing or save anything for a house deposit because their rents
keep going up. Above all, tenants feel stressed,
worried, depressed and fearful of the future," says Helen
Gatonyi, manager of TPA.
"Enough is enough… it's time for this government to take some
action to ensure the well-being of tenants does not continue to
deteriorate. We need to open the debate on rent stabilization, on
security of tenure and other measures to help tenants gain
access to decent affordable housing. A Warrant of Fitness must also
be developed to include all private sector rental housing".
Other survey results include:
- Almost 60% of tenants pay over 40% of their
annual income in rent
- 70% of tenants have had their rent increased in the 2 years
post-earthquakes
- The average rent increase was $43 per week
- Half of all tenants report mould in their dwellings
- Less than half of all tenant households are insulated.
Download or read the TPA Rental Survey Report 2013
online [PDF].