Auckland reclaims top spot as most expensive place to rent
Auckland has reclaimed the top spot as the country's most expensive place to rent after the Bay of Plenty overtook Tāmaki Makaurau in December, according to Trade Me's latest rental price index.
Trade Me's Gavin Lloyd said: "Average median rent in Auckland went up by 3 per cent compared to last month, reaching a high of $680 per week whilst the Bay of Plenty market dropped by 3 per cent to $650 per week.
"The increase in Tāmaki Makaurau was driven by the North Shore City which recorded an uptick of 4.2 per cent to $720 a week and Waitakere City which is up 2.3 per cent to $665 a week."
The data also showed New Zealand rental prices overall have increased for the second month in a row.
The national median weekly rent in New Zealand has jumped to $630 for the month of January, up 0.8% compared to December last year.
Lloyd said the first month of 2024 could be a "telling sign" of the year ahead.
"Renters were for the most part sheltered from any major price increases for rental properties at the end of 2023 but this may change if the Reserve Bank decides to raise the official cash rate next week in their first meeting of the year.
“As borrowing costs rise, landlords may face increased expenses, and some could pass on these costs to tenants through higher rents.
"This change might make it a bit tougher for renters with the rising cost of living and lack of properties available giving them fewer options when searching for a property," Lloyd said.
Southland retains its status as the most affordable place to rent in New Zealand, with a median price of $450 per week, a slight increase of $10 from December.
The report also included rent for townhouses and apartments, which have climbed to "record highs".
The median weekly rent for an apartment in New Zealand peaked at $560 per week in January and townhouses reached $665 per week.
In Auckland specifically, townhouses also reached an all time high of $730, up 5% compared to the same time last year. Units in Christchurch also saw a jump, up 12.5%, making the median rent $450.
"As net migration is almost at an all time high more people are coming into the country looking for entry level rentals like apartments and townhouses — especially as they are more prevalent in our city centres.
"This increase in demand is likely putting pressure on the supply and impacting prices," Lloyd said.
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⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!