AOTEAROA RENTERS’ SURVEY
In 2026, we have partnered with ActionStation for the 2026 Aotearoa Renters Survey. You can read the full survey here.
This comes nearly 10 years since the People’s Review of Renting. In that time, Healthy Homes legislation has come into force, no-cause evictions were abolished and then reinstated, state housing started to be built again and then stopped, and a global pandemic led to a nation-wide rent freeze followed by sharp rent increases.
The results were stark. Rents are still too high, rentals are still cold and mouldy, and renters feel powerless to take on their landlords. The survey found:
- 90.6% of renters have not recieved or asked for a rent reduction in the last 6 months
- The return of no-cause evictions as well as the general insecurity of renting from a third party has increased renters’ fear about speaking up.
- 78.4% of respondents estimated spending 30% and over of their weekly income on rent. 11.5% of respondents reported spending 80% and over of their weekly income on rent.
- 91.4% of respondents had either never used a 14-day notice or never heard of it, despite the many stories of things not getting fixed.
The stories from renters of all different backgrounds show things are not getting better. We need meaningful change to improve the conditions for renters across the country. Our recently released document “A Better Future for Renters” sets out tangible actions that can be implimented easily to improve the lives of renters across Aotearoa.
[I want] lower rent. I am a superannuitant with savings.
My rent claims 100% of my income from Super. I use my
savings for day-to-day living. When I have only $8,000
left of my savings, WINZ will allow me to apply for financial
help with my rent.
No-cause evictions means you’ll get thrown out for asking
for repairs, asking for justification for rent increases, or
thrown out just because they can increase the rent even
more if the place was empty before a new group moves in.
You basically just don’t want to remind your landlord you
exist—you don’t have rights if you want to keep a roof over
your head.
I never feel like I can ‘settle’ into a home, exhausted at the
thought of having to move again, holding onto packing
boxes all the time… feeling like I can never become part of
the local community and build bonds with neighbours etc,
which adds to feelings of insecurity.
Want to help us make a difference? Join the movement below: