Too many flats, not enough flatmates, says Trade Me Property

Property / news

Trade Me says more rooms in flats are being advertised but fewer people want them

27th Jun 24, 9:05am by Greg Ninness

The number of rooms in flats being advertised for rent is rising sharply in the main centres but fewer potential flatmates are looking at renting them, according to the latest data from TradeMe Property.

Across the entire country, the number of rooms to rent (flatmates wanted) advertised on Trade Me is up 18% compared to a year ago, with Auckland having the biggest increase at 38%, followed by Christchurch 26% and Wellington City 5%.

However demand for those rooms, as measured by online enquiries on the website, was down 57% nationally, with the biggest decrease in demand occurring in Christchurch -67%, followed by Auckland -63% and Wellington City -62%.

Trade Me Property Sales Director Gavin Lloyd said there were several factors that could be contributing to the influx of listings and the drop in demand, including the record number of young people leaving the country to seek better opportunities overseas, and more young New Zealand opting to keep living at home with parents or relatives because of the high cost of living.

"It's a new tenant's market with many more options available," Lloyd said.

"This allows those looking to move into an existing house to be more selective."

His advice to people looking to fill a room in a flat was to start viewings as early as possible, to get the best chance of finding a new flatmate that was the right fit.

"If you're struggling to find someone, it may be worth considering adjusting your rent to make the room more affordable for someone coming in, especially in Auckland where there is a stark difference between supply and demand," he said.

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78 Comments

by Nzdan | 27th Jun 24, 9:22am 1719436947

Maybe some distressed homeowners needing the extra money to make the mortgage payments?

by ChrisOfNoFame | 27th Jun 24, 10:57am 1719442621

True dat.

But TM's figures are a tad misleading as sensibly priced rooms disappear quickly leaving the more expensive ones there.

by K.W. | 27th Jun 24, 1:07pm 1719450466

Could also be the drop off in AirBnB demand. The room that was previously rented out on AirBnB is now empty. Adding 15% GST on to AirBnB listings for people renting out a room has probably killed demand and made it about the same as renting the room by the week.

by Thats All Folks | 27th Jun 24, 9:40am 1719438043

Just “rAiSe thE REnT”

Someone will surely pay double the value for these kiwi dog shacks!

by General Comment | 27th Jun 24, 10:48am 1719442124

I have to ask: Is TradeMe still the main conduit for locating flatmates? I genuinely don't know myself, but I would have thought various social media sites would be more instantly appealing to the younger demographic, in much the same way specialist internet forums died down markedly with the rise of Facebook groups.

For example, we're selling a rural product online, and our hit rate for FB vs TM is something like 7:1.

by rastus1 | 27th Jun 24, 11:55am 1719446154

Anecdotal - family renters say it's getting harder to find new flatmates, especially one's you would want to share a house with!

by spacecadet | 27th Jun 24, 2:41pm 1719456076

Makes sense. Isn't it mostly the younger generation that are bailing to Oz, like the ones that would otherwise be flatting? Most of the uni students I talk to are straight out of here when they finish.

by JimboJones | 27th Jun 24, 2:44pm 1719456293

It will only be the retirees and beneficiaries left soon. And the new immigrants until they are allowed to go to Aus.

by K.W. | 27th Jun 24, 3:32pm 1719459157

Even the retirees are heading to Australia. The poor ones can get an Australian pension, the rich ones self fund. And why would you stay here when the healthcare system is so crap - get sick in NZ and its basically a death sentence.

by CN - new | 27th Jun 24, 10:50am 1719442210

"It's a new tenant's market with many more options available," Lloyd said.

"This allows those looking to move into an existing house to be more selective."

Seems that the pricing power has swung into the favour of tenants after having been in the favour of landlords for so long.

Landlords under cashflow stress may find that their operating costs are increasing faster than rents. Landlords may be unable pass on higher cost increases to tenants and learn that their pricing power is determined by market forces.

by sammnz | 27th Jun 24, 11:09am 1719443361

I listed a room in a house on Trademe a month or two ago and it went fairly quickly, something like 2 weeks listed for higher than what market was asking, and it went pretty fast. I guess people are asking either too much or the existing 'flatmates' are not desirable.

I don't think people in flatting situations want to necessarily live with children or another family.

by ChrisOfNoFame | 27th Jun 24, 11:10am 1719443449

There's been a lot of new houses added in the last few years.

Them's that haven't cottoned onto the effects of the NPS/UD, MDRS, new zoning rules, etc. that all allow for far higher densities will get burned buying 'rentals' at current prices. I look forward to the day in 20 years time and people will say, "Remember back in the good old day where property doubled every 10 years and tax free capital gains made you rich? Those were great times."

by Audaxes | 27th Jun 24, 11:42am 1719445346

Remember when Australian housing was cheap? H/T M Reddell

by IT GUY | 27th Jun 24, 1:47pm 1719452867

Little paper bags of lollies where 5c

by Retired-Poppy | 27th Jun 24, 1:57pm 1719453427

When a pint bottle of milk was 4 cents? Today, each time the caps unscrewed 4c worth is lost in evaporation alone 😆🤣

by JimboJones | 27th Jun 24, 2:20pm 1719454806

A house was probably $10k. Now that's three months rent.

by HouseMouse | 27th Jun 24, 11:23am 1719444232

Along with more rooms, there’s a lot more whole townhouses for rent on TM with this surge in completions

by 21Trillion | 27th Jun 24, 12:27pm 1719448048

I live opposite a 3 bedroom home with 17 tenants in it. All immigrants.

I know of 6 young people that have left NZ for good in the last 12m, all Auckland based. Each one has left a room in a flat. We're replacing them with people that are happy to share a bedroom with 5-6 others

Go figure. Make property into a ponzi that restricts potential of people and they'll leave. Replace them with poorer people that won't pay that much, a new problem emerges.

Who could've thought this might happen lol

by Nifty1 | 27th Jun 24, 1:20pm 1719451249

How have you worked out there's 17 tenants? Sounds like a nice little community.

by IT GUY | 27th Jun 24, 1:50pm 1719453014

At $50 a person a week...... I can see you drooling from here....

by JimboJones | 27th Jun 24, 2:16pm 1719454578

And another secretion

by 21Trillion | 27th Jun 24, 10:55pm 1719485703

The 11 cars, neighbour mentioning the 17 count.

I hold nothing against them, just sad this is the reality NZ has come to

by WellingtonInvestor | 1st Jul 24, 3:16am 1719760619

Surely the landlord wouldn't allow that many people living in it. The wear and tear on the property will be high, but wonder if it is an old run down place.

by Yvil | 27th Jun 24, 5:40pm 1719466835

I live opposite a 3 bedroom home with 286 tenants in it. All immigrants.

I know of 165 young people that have left NZ for good in the last 12minutes, all Auckland based. Each one has left a room in a flat. We're replacing them with people that are happy to share a bedroom with 50-60 others

Go figure. Make property into a ponzi that restricts potential of people and they'll leave. Replace them with poorer people that won't pay that much, a new problem emerges.

Who could've thought this might happen lol

by 21Trillion | 27th Jun 24, 10:56pm 1719485784

Nice Yvil, I bet your parents would be real proud of the type of human they raised.

Real proud.

Have some decency. At least act like you give a sh** for the next gen of kiwis.

by Dick Mammoth | 27th Jun 24, 12:49pm 1719449375

Having sold up a couple of years ago i have been renting rooms on the shore, Noticed the room i vacated a few months ago is still being advertised .Also most of the rooms for rent are in your bog standard kiwi homes not the newer chinese townhouses which i find a bit surprising as these have been rented out as they have failed to sell in the current market . Can only assume families are in these and flatmates are in the older type places and possible leaky plaster ones

by JimboJones | 27th Jun 24, 2:15pm 1719454521

I know a few flatters / renters who much prefer a well located newer townhouse over a crappy old house. Flatters and singles typically don't need a section, so why pay lots to rent an old place worth $2 mil+ when there is a cheaper / newer / warmer / quieter option available.

by interesting1234 | 27th Jun 24, 2:32pm 1719455570

Fair call, many don't have any inkling to garden and prefer houseplants.

by JimboJones | 27th Jun 24, 2:47pm 1719456479

Auckland (and probably the other main centres) really needs an area close to the CBD which is almost completely townhouses for younger people to live in. Unfortunately those areas are supposedly heritage / viewshafts / too nice / too rich to apply market forces to.

by K.W. | 27th Jun 24, 3:35pm 1719459311

Why? Young people just need access to public transport to the city, so anywhere near a train station will do. They dont need to be ripping up nice character areas and replacing them with low quality housing that will become future slums. You can stick those anywhere.

by mfd | 27th Jun 24, 4:35pm 1719462914

Seems backwards to have the young who want to be out and about and contributing to night life, and who would be able to use active transport, stuck out in the sticks to maintain a dead zone inhabited by elderly people wedded to their cars.

Why not build some nice character areas out in in the sticks, near a highway?

by K.W. | 28th Jun 24, 11:39am 1719531576

If they want to be in the city, then they can live in an apartment in the city. Build up in the CBD, instead of destroying suburbs like Ponsonby/Thorndon/Merivale. If they dont want to live in the city, then live close to a train station at the end of the line. Makes no difference if you are one stop from the CBD or ten.

by mfd | 28th Jun 24, 2:04pm 1719540298

There's a big difference between ten stops on the train and 10 minutes on foot, by bike, or by scooter. While if you're hopping in your car to get anywhere anyway, you may as well be away from the action and near a highway junction.

by Uninterested | 27th Jun 24, 3:08pm 1719457731

The problem with these townhouses which didn't sell and are now for rent: they will very quickly become worn and tired looking. Which will affect the future sale price even more.

by ChrisOfNoFame | 27th Jun 24, 8:59pm 1719478762

Location. Location. And location.

by Retired-Poppy | 27th Jun 24, 1:22pm 1719451333

"Yield slip sliding away" Nah surely not. Someone once said here that in times of capital loss, Landlords just raise rents to compensate their pockets. The methodology was based on the devaluation rental car companies endure - priceless!

Back in reality land, much like Landlords that are well capitalized and in it for the long term charging reasonable rent for well maintained digs, good tenants are also like gold and make for happier lives all round. Smart Landlords will willingly reduce rent to retain good tenants.

by IT GUY | 27th Jun 24, 1:59pm 1719453571

Silly Retired Poppy....

Yields are only used for the valuation of commercial property....

Residential uses other more metaphysical concepts, that Yvil is still yet to explain to me....

(I have a spreadsheet but I do not understand the FINDING a bigger sucker calculation)

by Retired-Poppy | 27th Jun 24, 2:32pm 1719455523

🤣😆✅

by Mypointis | 29th Jun 24, 7:59am 1719604788

No reason to reduce the rent if you have a good tenants and their rent is already well below market.

by Pat.T | 27th Jun 24, 2:54pm 1719456855

As things have become tighter economically, I wonder how many have given up flatting and moved back home to be with mum and dad.

A neighbour has her 40ish son (and he is employed) living with her, should have cut the cord and taken back the key years ago.

by Retired-Poppy | 27th Jun 24, 3:00pm 1719457259

As this downturn progresses, I think quite a few adult kids will head back home or even cluster into bigger groups (overcrowding). This is another nail in the coffin for Landlords price setting capabilities of yesteryear.

by HouseMouse | 27th Jun 24, 3:51pm 1719460287

Talking to a young colleague today, 3 of his 4 flatmates have been made redundant over the past month

by HughJorgan | 27th Jun 24, 3:14pm 1719458097

The so called housing shortage is going to disappear real fast!

We have enough homes, the my are just too expensive and poorly utiliser. Both of these are starting to swing.

by earnedincome | 27th Jun 24, 3:45pm 1719459917

As I've argued before, there is more underutilisation of dwellings in boom times. Not what a naive 'supply and demand' model would suggest, but the housing market is way more complicated than 'economics 101'.

Those that are banking on ever increasing rental prices paying for their ever increasing holding costs are in for a bad time. Part of the process of this market correction is a return to better utilisation (and that means more competition in the long term rental market).

As an aside, I'm seeing anecdotal evidence for a major downturn in AirBnB bookings. Many are going to opt for the security of the long term rental market in response. Just one example of how utilisation will improve as the market corrects.

by OldSkoolEconomics | 27th Jun 24, 4:14pm 1719461662

Lol.

Debeers do a good job convincing the world diamonds are scarce and thus worth a lot more money than they are.

Nz houses have been marketed the same way for a few years.

Let's see what happens now. I would want to be leveraged up and holding a few rentals

by wingman | 27th Jun 24, 4:57pm 1719464238

All these negative, whining comments about how bad things are. Great time to dip your toes in the water and take a few risks. Anyone been to Westgate shopping centre recently and noticed the huge amount of construction underway?

It doesn't matter how bad things are, there's always opportunities. Buy in gloom, sell in boom.

by Amokk | 27th Jun 24, 5:24pm 1719465894

I think you've misunderstood the tone of the comments. While they may seem negative and critical, they actually express hope. With prices steadily decreasing, there's optimism that the situation will improve for the country and for those struggling to afford housing.

It's really curious to me that so many people with 'man' in their Interest.co.nz names come across as self-centered, narcissistic, I've got mine so screw everyone else type people.

by wingman | 27th Jun 24, 5:31pm 1719466307

The comments here certainly are negative, but even places like Huntly are reporting price increases as canny buyers move in. I get you're a socialist and people like me should be hung, drawn and quartered, but in the real world there's opportunities galore.

by Amokk | 27th Jun 24, 5:43pm 1719467025

LMFAO I’m not a socialist, I just have a strong sense of justice compared to the shit constantly promoted by some on this site.

These are the same people who complain when their businesses can’t survive without interest deductibility and low interest rates. They’re the ones who buy multiple properties using equity (essentially a pyramid scheme) and then whine when their businesses don't make money from rent, since it was always about the capital gain.

by wingman | 27th Jun 24, 6:25pm 1719469505

I'd say you're definitely a socialist. I came from a pretty average background, so I know what living without is like. My parents bought second hand presents for my birthdays.

I've been renting properties for decades, and if it's a 'pyramid scheme' as you allege, how come I didn't go broke?

It's an investment, right, so why doesn't housing investment get the same tax treatment as all other 'investment property'?

Because your friend, Comrade Arden, decided otherwise.

by agnostium | 27th Jun 24, 7:03pm 1719471812

Increasingly shrill there Wingman, getting nervous about your wife's 100% guaranteed 1000% profit, 30% discounted, definitely not a floodplain, all adjacent sections selling like hotcakes 30% over CV, property.

Chill man, keep the faith, you're going to make a killing.

by Amokk | 27th Jun 24, 8:17pm 1719476224

"I've been renting properties for decades, and if it's a 'pyramid scheme' as you allege, how come I didn't go broke? "

Your comment perfectly explained it. If you can't see it I'll try ELI5 for you - did you consider just maybe you got in on the pyramid scheme on the ground floor! The first people in a pyramid typically do very well.

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 10:29am 1719527386

I've never slept more soundly than since I purchased those few acres in Riverhead, and that's a pretty good indication I've got it 100% right.

If it's good enough for Fletchers and The Botanic to spend a few hundred million in Riverhead, I guess it's good enough for me to spend a couple.

Ever been to West Harbour? I was the very first person to buy a waterfront section there, along with 3 other sections. How canny was that?

Did I make a killing? Is the Pope a Catholic?

I'm driving to Riverhead shortly, you guys are giving the place so much exposure I'll probably run into a few interest.co.nz subscribers scouting the place out.

by mfd | 28th Jun 24, 2:03pm 1719540185

Looking at Fletcher's share price history, I wouldn't feel comfortable following them anywhere. Nor would I be confident that they will go through with any current development plans - they are pretty short on capital right now.

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 5:50pm 1719553800

There's loads of other work going on in the area - massive roadworks, school extension, new subdivisions, the Country Club Huapai, Westgate, next to NZ's most expensive suburb......can't miss.

BTW, Fletchers aren't in it on their own, it's a consortium of 3 very big developers. Neil Group and Matvin Group.

by The Man3 | 28th Jun 24, 9:37pm 1719567421

How on earth is a pyramid scheme!

Any business relies on each stage making money until the final user pays more than the initial business.

Is this a pyramid scheme.

The problem is the previous government kept giving away borrowed money to people for staying at home and we also have too many reliant on welfare which is a failure for the country.

We need people to start taking care of their own lives, be more responsible and stop moaning and not being jealous of what other people have achieved.

by The Man3 | 28th Jun 24, 9:29pm 1719566996

Wingman, unfortunately too many do not want to go out and improve their financial position.

Far easier to keep moaning about the price of houses, and all these people are leaving and going to OZ!

I personally haven’t known anyone I know in Chch that has left in the last five years.

Of course it is financially difficult for many at the moment due to mismanagement of the country by the previous government and now too many are paying for it.

I can appreciate it is not easy to buy in Auckland and Wellington etc. but it is even harder in the Australian cities, the cost of living is worse from what I have seen.

The market is the market and you can not change the market on your own and by moaning and groaning just puts you into a head space that is not good.

As Wingman says, there are opportunities in every market and we are certainly actively involved at the moment and yes it is profitable in Chch.

Not too sure how property investors are narcissists, got me beat?

by wingman | 29th Jun 24, 11:36am 1719617761

How true. Youngsters get together, do burnouts, probably have low-paying jobs, wreck their cars, and in a few years time these same wallies will be complaining how hard it is buying a house with 3 kids and HP on their new Subaru.

by HouseMouse | 27th Jun 24, 8:32pm 1719477123

He’s ‘Da MAN’

by Greeneggsandham | 27th Jun 24, 9:59pm 1719482357

One of the most obvious troll burner accounts on this forum.

by Zachary Smith | 28th Jun 24, 4:16am 1719504976

Wingman and TheMan3 are genuine old school property investors. They are likely to be right in the long run. There will be opportunities out there, as well as pitfalls.

by Amokk | 28th Jun 24, 4:29am 1719505748

If a monkey hoarded more bananas than it could eat, while most of the other monkeys starved, scientists would study that monkey to figure out what the hell was wrong with it.

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 4:33pm 1719549225

If the other monkeys were smart, they'd study the alpha male monkey to find out how he manages to hoard so many bananas. And he's gonna end up with the female monkeys...right? Because he's the one with the bananas.

by Amokk | 28th Jun 24, 2:05pm 1719540329

LMFAO @ And he's gonna end up with the female monkeys...right?

Are you Donald Trump cos fek me everything you state sure sounds like him...

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 2:40pm 1719542458

I don't have a lot of time for Trump...but is he rich?

by interesting1234 | 28th Jun 24, 4:37pm 1719549426

Or the other monkeys would club the greedy monkey until it shared and changed it’s ways.

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 5:27pm 1719552422

The other monkeys didn't have what it takes to overthrow the alpha male, and they weren't very smart, so he was the one that ended up with the sexual favours from the females and a cruisey life with his bananas.

by Mypointis | 29th Jun 24, 8:13am 1719605586

Money is power, it doesn't matter what anyone says. All you see over time is certain ones that don't have much, their eyes getting infected with green dye.

by Greeneggsandham | 28th Jun 24, 7:19am 1719515979

There are always opportunities in every market, no one would deny that. They seem to be very binary in their thinking. For example, CN IT or RP will discusses a hypothetical FHB scenario and all they can offer is buy buy buy right now no matter what. They will never provide specific examples or links to data that refute other arguments. Don’t get me wrong, someone who says the market is going to zero with no evidence or data is just as annoying. Commentators like Jfoe are really good examples of what makes these comment threads educational. Robust discussions and data to back up the point of view and always willing to address counter arguments. If I want utter crap comments, I’ll stick to Stuff and other terrible forums.

by CN - new | 28th Jun 24, 11:14am 1719530097

Please remember that wingman and Theman3 are involved in the property business (construction of newbuild, property trading, etc). That is their experience and perspective - they're in the profit seeking side of property. There are others in that category such as property investors, builders, and developers who are also commenters who speak from that perspective.

This is very different to many other commentators who are speaking to an owner occupier buyer audience buying in the existing dwelling market or the new build market for personal use primarily, & not primarily for profit. (I.e the majority of the population of NZ)

by wingman | 28th Jun 24, 1:54pm 1719539663

That isn't true, I'm not a builder or trader, I'm a casual observer that's on my 5th new build, I've owned and renovated a number of others, including 2 industrial properties.

It's been an interesting and profitable hobby. I was involved in the aviation industry before I retired.

If you're not looking to make a profit what the hell are you doing tinkering with property?

P.S. I've never had a mortgage that wasn't tax deductible...have a think about that.

by Greeneggsandham | 28th Jun 24, 7:01pm 1719558067

So buy hold renovate sell? Whats your opinion on all the new townhouses builds in Auckland being able to retain the value vs the older stand alones?

by wingman | 29th Jun 24, 8:54am 1719608064

I'm not a fan of properties that involve body corporates. I've owned a couple, and dealing with other owners can be very trying at times. I prefer stand alone, and they probably have better resale value.

by HughJorgan | 28th Jun 24, 9:39pm 1719567547

“Never had a mortgage that wasn’t tax deductible”…. Businesses use loans, not mortgages. Tell me again why you should load your personal debt on to properties and get favourable tax treatment.

While I am at it, West Harbour is a shit hole. If you like water front you’ll know that there is no such thing out there. Mangroves, narrow channels and a shitty marina. Prices on those places don’t reflect the premium for water front.

by HughJorgan | 28th Jun 24, 9:47pm 1719568055

Just looked on Homes.co.nz. No confirmed sales over $3m, only two that are TBC. That’s for the entire West Harbour Suburb.

So yeah, that’s not waterfront.

by wingman | 29th Jun 24, 4:27pm 1719635238

I sold my last place at West Harbour about September last year. Cost me $140,000 total to build and sold it for $1.3m. And got years of rent off it.

I made a fortune in West Harbour, and that's what counts. Who cares whether the property's in Otara or Remuera, the aim is to make-a da moolah.

by The Man3 | 28th Jun 24, 10:08pm 1719569300

Zachary, unfortunately it seems like if you are financially well off investing in property and providing shelter, we have done something wrong?

Now I would love it if everyone who wants to and is prepared to work to achieve a home, however it just does not seem like a lot on here are actually in that state of mind.

Reality is it would be far easier if I sold every property and kept the money in something far easier than rental property ownership, it is not all beer and skittles and I know many have put in so much work and time , that they deserve their financial gains.

Whst do know is that the Chch market will only go up as building costs dont drop, demand is huge and it is a happy city.

by The Man3 | 28th Jun 24, 10:14pm 1719569668

Because I have a point of view that is different to most on here, I am a Troll?

Seriously, if people want to moan and grown about things like they have for the last decade and think things are going to change, then clearly I am just wasting my time.

I wish you all the very best and hope that all your financial wishes come true.

Prefer to associate with people who wish to get ahead, have a good life, as reading the moans continuously is rather brain numbing, and achieves nothing