Housing
Is it cheaper to pay a mortgage, or rent?
In both markets, people looking for a home have the power.
Social housing agency hikes tenants' rents at double agreed rate
The company told RNZ its costs had increased due to a rise in inflation, but emails reveal that's not the whole picture. Audio
One in five Auckland home sellers making a loss
In the third quarter of this year, 87.8 percent of properties nationwide were sold for more than the sellers had paid for them. Audio
Social housing agency doubles tenant’s rent
A Wellington social housing agency has hiked its tenants' rent at double the rate the housing ministry initially agreed to, citing "financial pressures". Reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Property owners take council to court over flooding
The owners of a property prone to severe flash flooding are taking Auckland Council to court for designating their house safe to live in. Brendon Deacon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
'Where does it all stop?': The ballooning cost of insurance
Consumer NZ says there are worrying signs that more people are dropping their house insurance as a result.
The rising cost of taking a gamble on the what-ifs
As the cost of insurance rises, Consumer NZ sees worrying signs that more people are dropping their house insurance Audio
Building inspectors say change to building act could go further
A group representing building inspectors says the changes to the Building Act are a good start, but could go further. Building Officials Institute chief executive Nick Hill spoke to Melissa… Audio
Government changes rules on responsibility when builds go wrong
Home warranties will be mandatory for new residential builds and major renovations, while those contributing to building design work, like architects and engineers, will have to have indemnity… Audio
Call for national data on where people are discharged to after hospital stay
Health NZ says its practice is not to discharge people to homelessness, but there is no reliable data on where people with complex mental health or addiction needs are sent.
Advocates call for proposed Auckland homelessness ban to be binned
The government has signalled it's considering introducing legislation that would give police the power to issue move-on orders to remove unhoused people from Auckland's city centre.
Government unveils changes to building rules
The government has unveiled its renovation to building rules, with changes including mandatory home warranties, indemnity insurance for some professionals and a doubling of penalties for so called… Audio
New 'home warranty' rules protecting homeowners announced
The government has revealed more details on how homeowners can be protected under its proposed proportionate liability system for the Building Act.
Ten things your landlord can't do
Tenants have more control in the rental market than they have for a while, but recent rulings show some landlords are still getting it wrong.
Calls for action on overheating homes
The New Zealand Green Building Council and Auckland Council have written an open letter to the government asking for urgent action on overheating homes. Andrew Eagles is the Chief Executive of the New… Audio
Landlord accused of sending tenants racist messages
Darren Williams has twice appeared before the Tenancy Tribunal this year over the way he has treated tenants at Auckland properties.
Neighbour wins payout over half-done, 'blight' of an apartment block
Forrest Tan says he's still to receive a cent of that though from the owner of the abandoned project in Auckland's Epsom
Sanctioned landlord 'just wants to bank his money', neighbour says
Murray Hill, who's been warned multiple times that his property wasn't up to standard, has been ordered to pay $33,000, remove industrial rubbish and repair holes in the roof and walls of a boarding…
Landlord fined and ordered to repair, clean up property
The Tenancy Tribunal took action against Murray Lawrence Hill, who has a long history of complaints.
Kaikōura council's plan for another 400 homes
Depending on the mix of housing types, it will represent significant growth for the district's population of 4200.
