Flat hunters in despair as lower rents soar

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 1

Flat hunters in despair as lower rents soar

I ~ 'Bu

AVERIL McLAY)

Flat hunters in Christchurch are laced with gloomy prospects. “I’m sorry it s been let” is the usual reply to inquiries tor accommodation.

Hordes of young couples, students and others are among’ the large group daily ringing landlords’ doorbells or calling them on the

phone. Demand for two-bedroom flats under $3O per week, appears to be fiercest, and I looking for a flat in this cateigory has become a race in i which only the biggest, (strongest, and swiftest can I survive. i Early morning telephoning ■ in reply to newspaper advertisements usually results in endless engaged signals; and ■if by chance a candidate is (fortunate enough to eventually get through, it is of little (benefit unless he or she be :in a position where work (commitments do not preclude; ■ going to see the flat that, (morning. No reply Flats in this sought-after( group which are advertised ( in an afternoon paper are usually let by 3 p.m. Attempts by flat hunters to contact

advertisers during the rest of the afternoon are usually met with a blunt “I’m sorry, it’s gone,” a suspiciously long engaged tone, or simply no answer. Some landlords require interested tenants to call at the flat after a certain time 11 that evening, and on one :(occasion, known to have hapI pened a week ago. a long 'queue of people were left to i i wait outside a prospective , I flat for an indefinite period none evening. The landlord, who had possibly let the flat to an afternoon or early - (caller, did not bother to i arrive and inform those vvaitIjing in the queue, and they ijeventally succumbed to ■ (fatigue and disillusionment. Reul- rit*e '( One young business couple (who have been looking for (a two-bedroom unfurnished flat, for which they are pre-

fl pared to pay up to $27 a 11 week, have avidly perused! 51 newspaper advertisements, ; (visited accommodation 11 bureaux, and have advertised 'unsuccessfully several times I ■ (themselves. For all their t efforts in rhe last six weeks ■ ■ they have only actually been ■ • (able to get to the stage of -(seeing three flats. ? These were unsun able beJ cause of long-term contracts e desired by landlords, high iirent, and a lack of facilities.

In this short rime they hat e (noticed a phenomenal rise tn rent. Two-bedroom flats in a reasonable area are now on an average being let for $3O to $35 and only the occasional. popular flat is offered for qnder $25. Six week® ago similar ■ flats were being offered for I $22 to $25. Letter’* market Another case involves two working girls who were sue cessful in obtaining a flat ■lily because they knew ihe previous- tenants. Phen rent, however, ros* from $lB to $25 without any improvements, and since their occupancy the girls (have been busy painting and making their own improve ments to its somewhat dowdy appearance. Another case in Linwood involved a block of flats where tenants are paying 'different rents for the same facilities. The rent is apparently raised each time there (is a change of occupants and (some tenants are paying sl® !and others $24. Several years ago these flats were lei for $l5 each. Landlords are obviously tn a position to be choosy, and many advertisements reques’ “no children, business couple only.” “Wanted to Let” columns are often longer than “To Let.” and many people must be either homeless, on the brink of despair, or both