With Flatting Week upon us and students already searching for their 2017 flats, Critic thought it would look at all of the flats students are, or will soon be, choosing from. Every flat listed on Trade Me as of 14 July with three-plus bedrooms that are located in North Dunedin has been included, and everything from off-street parking to how the level of furnishing when you move in has been noted.
Out of the 312 properties on the site, the average price per week was $129.22, with the maximum being a ridiculously expensive $280 and the minimum an incredible $79. One of the most important factors students take into account when choosing a flat may not necessarily be insulation, although it is an issue that has been on the minds of politicians the nation over. New insulation legislation, which came into effect on July 1, 2016, requires landlords to declare the level of insulation in their rental properties. In addition, all tenancies must have both ceiling and underfloor insulation with a minimum thickness of 70mm from July 1, 2019.
Many of the property listings were made before the July 1 cut off, and so were not legally obliged to declare their insulation levels. Only 42 properties listed full insulation among the selling points of their property, along with 22 who listed ceiling insulation and just two with underfloor insulation. Double glazing, which can actually reduce heat loss by up to halve, can significantly reduces tenants’ and owners’ power bills and help to prevent health issues such as pneumonia and asthma. Only 27 properties boasted double glazing.
Parking is an increasingly problematic issue each year, with more and more students owning cars and the usual early morning fight for free street parks during the week being an ever-present drag for staff and students alike. Just over one third of all properties relieved this issue by providing at least one off-street park 19 properties have space for two; nine have space for three), and 12 had a garage to safely park your car.
Some of the listings truly went beyond the call of duty, noting their property “comes with an oven” or has a “microwave included” in the tenancy. These listings could learn sales techniques from checking what some other landlords included, with some luring tenants in with HD Projectors, 51” Flat Screen TVs, and one even said they would only require rent for 48 weeks of the 52 week tenancy; take note landlords, students can easily be lured by expensive free treats.