Is this the New Zealand we want to be living in?
Living in sheds as rents rise from Dom Post 23 October by Kay Blundell and Ben Fawkes
“A growing number of people are living illegally in storage lockups as the cost of renting increases.
The Dominion Post has uncovered evidence of sheds being transformed into makeshift homes. At least two people are living in a small cluster of lockups in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taita, and fire safety officers say the problem is growing. Living in lockups is illegal because of poor sanitation and the risk of floods and fires.
Tucked away behind light industrial buildings, the double row of sheds is home to Ross – who would not give his full name for fear of being evicted by the council – his dog Kaiser and a cat. Ross has lived there for three years since his home was sold after the end of a relationship. The dingy lockup, which has only one door and no windows, is kitted out with an oven, television and stereo. He pays about $100 a week. He spends two or three nights a week at his partner’s house, where he washes and uses the toilet. Otherwise he uses nearby sports facilities. Now living on a benefit, Ross takes life “day by day … I would not like to be here forever”.
Fire safety officer Tony Nightingale said lockups normally had no sprinklers or alarms. “A lot of hazardous substances are stored in them. Heaven forbid if firefighters are called to a fire and are unaware people are living there. It is a huge risk.” It was difficult to catch lockup dwellers because the council had to give notice of an inspection, giving residents time to shift out. Hutt City Council communications manager Don Carson confirmed
problems of people living in substandard conditions. “Quite frequently, extended family members arrive and are put up in anything with a roof.”
Regional Public Health officer Steve Palmer said vermin and lack of drinking water and sanitary facilities were a recipe for disease. “If people are living in lockups because the rents are affordable, they should contact Work and Income. There are alternatives.”
Wellington Housing Trust said high market rents hit many people in the pocket. Trust coordinator Alison Cadman was not surprised to hear some low-income earners were resorting to living in garages.
Median rents for a one-bedroom flat in Wellington range from $132 in Taita to $220 in Newtown. The national average is $185″.
In The Social Report 2007 one of the desired outcome statements measured under Economic Standard of Living is “everyone should have access to decent, affordable housing that meets their needs”. It states “High housing costs relative to household income are of more concern for low-income households. The proportion of households in the lowest 20 percent of the equivalised household income distribution spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing rose from 16 percent in 1988 to reach a peak of 49 percent in 1994 before levelling off at 41-42 percent over the period 1996-2001. In 2004, this proportion had fallen to 35 percent. While this represents a substantial improvement, the proportion of low-income households spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing is still over twice as high as it was in 1988″. For lower-income households especially, high housing costs relative to income are often associated with sever financial difficulty, and can leave households with insufficient income to meet other basic needs such as food, clothing, transport, medical care and education. High outgoings-to-income ratios are not as critical for higher-income households, as there is still sufficient income left for basic needs.”
Facebook comments: