Student allowances are set to increase by $25 in April 2022. Most students can be confident that this change will see a similar rise in rent across most of Dunedin.
The average increase in rent for next year appears to be between $10 and $20 per person, according to the students interviewed by Critic. This represents an 8–14% increase in rent for the majority of North Dunedin.
One student, Bella, whose rent is increasing from $140 to $160 says “We’re not sure if the increase is due to the market or because the landlord had to replace several walls in the flat due to water damage.” But some have seen $15 increases without any improvements to the liveability of their flats. Another student, Grace, says her rent is going up despite her “not being aware of any” major alterations.
According to tenancy services, the 2021 median rent for a 5 bedroom flat in Dunedin North is $800, or $160 per person.
Under new changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, Landlords can only increase rent once every twelve months. Other than this, landlords have total freedom to increase rent unless tenants can prove in the tenancy tribunal that their rent is ‘significantly higher’ than other similar properties in the area.