::::렌트피플 보세연 (Tenants under pressure 펌

Tenants under pressure 16 April 2003 By SUE FOX Tenants will be hit with rent rises over the next six months as landlords pass on rate increases across the Auckland region. Property managers say rate increases and extra user pays charges will put pressure on landlords. "It will get passed on to the tenant. I have got lots of good tenants and it is not fair on them, it makes it very difficult for everyone," St Heliers L J Hooker property manager Sue Clark says. "Some rents are already very high. We are very short of normal family homes and people are paying a lot more for these homes than 12 months ago," Ms Clark says. Rate increases are expected from Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council (ARC) in June, to cover transport and major infrastructure development. Low-value ($180,000-$200,000) property owners will face an average city council rates increase of 21 per cent, while medium-value property owners face a 7.3 per cent rise. Property owners must also pay a separate ARC rates bill for the first time. In the past this rate appeared on their city council rates bill. Last year the ARC levy was $79 for a $260,000 property. This year, it more than doubles to $200. A range of user pays charges is also proposed for footpaths, stormwater and waste, plus an additional rate to fund a new convention centre for Aotea Square. Ms Clark says landlords will want rent increases to cover these bills as they already pay wastewater charges. They may also be burdened with letting fees if changes are made to the Residential Tenancies Act this year. She predicts many tenants will be pushed into less desirable suburbs, or forced to rent rundown properties in order to stay in popular suburbs. "People are already buying in suburbs that they don't want to live in," Ms Clark says. There will be overcrowding and people will rent smaller properties to keep costs down, she says. Interactive Property Management owner Leonie Freeman says she reviews rents for landlords every six months. "It is a continual thing," Ms Freeman says. But some landlords don't pass on extra costs if they have a quality tenant who looks after the property, she says. "But this will add pressure to landlords, who usually have a mortgage over the property. They will review their position and decide if there is room to move." Under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords must give tenants 60 days' written notice of a rent increase.