HOUSE SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1935, Page 5

HOUSE SHORTAGE

POSITION IN AUCKLAND. TRANSPORT COSTS PROBLEM. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, Jun e 10. Although '‘here has been of late some revival in building for residential purposes, the housing position in Auckland, in the view of leading estate agents, is still serious. This applies more particularly to houses for renting. One agent said his office received inquiries from anything up to a score of prospective tenan/js daily and was unable to satisfy them.

“The shortage of houses for renting is more acute than it ha s been in Auckland since the days immediately following the war,’’ the agent continued. “In spite of t’jhis rents do not show any marked rising tendency, as there is apparently a well defined limit above which the majority of people are not prepared to pay.’’

The agent mentioned tnvo extreme oases. One was a large house in a favoured residential distric/. for which the owner vras asking over £3 a week rent. It had already been without a tenant for some considerable time. At the other extreme was a house five sections from Queen Street, available a>" £1 a week, but prospective tenants would not consider it as they would have to pay in tram fares.

Houses reasonably close to the city and w’ith reasonably- modern conveniences were almost impossible i f )o obtain. An outgoing tenant would receive numerous inquires from “house hunters” as soon as his intentions were known. and, by arrangement with the landlord a new tenant wou’d be ready to occupv the. iTouse on the day 1ha M it became vacant.