Rents in Auckland have hit a record high, with the median price now $520 a week

Everyone who cares about the future of the economy, interest rates and house prices needs to circle two dates in their calendars this year.

Barfoot and Thompson reports the slowest April in four years, while Quotable Value says values were up 2.1pc over the past three months.

Labour leader Andrew Little will tomorrow make a bid to raise minimum standards of heating and insulation for rental properties.

Tenants have been strongly advised to take out contents insurance to guard against being sued for damaging rental properties.

Tenants who damage rental properties aren't necessarily liable for the damage, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Aucklanders are being pushed out of their own housing market and are responsible for one in five house sales in cities including Hamilton, Whangarei and Tauranga.

Rising rents are believed to be driving a 46 per cent jump in food parcels being handed out each month by the Auckland City Mission since the middle of last year.

Yong Xin Chen ditched her leasehold Cornwall Park house after her annual rent increased from $8300 to $73,750.

Auckland Council says landlords have too much power over tenants and it wants the Government to introduce random auditing of rentals.

A Trade Me listing to rent the bottom tier of a bunk-bed in a prime Auckland location has been removed.

The lawyer for a Chinese property developer who was ordered to pay almost $120,000 repair costs to the house she abandoned says the amount is "excessive".

Looking at buying a rental property? According to realestate.co.nz there's some attractive investment opportunities in some unlikely areas.

A bed in a prime Auckland location is going for cheap on Trade Me, the only catch is you'll have to sleep under a Japanese woman.

Auckland rents are surging - further bad news for young professionals locked out of the housing market.

A group of transgender flatmates living in Wellington has defended their Trade Me listing for wanting "no heterosexuals" in their advertisement.

Roger MacDonald, the new chief executive of Auckland Council's Panuku Development Auckland, gives his take on the year ahead.

Auckland housing affordability has improved slightly - but the city is now 59 per cent less affordable than the rest of New Zealand.

Influx of tenants moving into the city for work or study is expected to cause more stress in Auckland's rental market.

Interest rates might be sinking but council rates are rising and that could drive rents up.

Housing's perfect storm as cost of renting a typical home in Auckland hits new high.

A young couple wonder if they should reduce their loan or invest in property.

Pensioners, disabled people and low-income families will benefit from a surprise Government decision to fund 508 social housing units in Auckland.

The Government has agreed to fund an extra 508 social housing units in Auckland in a surprise boost to previously announced policies.

Auckland's property market showed signs of slowing last month, with a 7.7 per cent fall in sales and new listings dropping by a similar amount.

Auckland tenants could be in for a New Year shock.

Three options have emerged as the property management sector discusses how to set standards and ethics for the powerful but unregulated managers.

Auckland's biggest real estate agency says median house prices dropped 1.3 per cent last month and its chief also acknowledged auction clearance rates had "slowed".

Mt Albert residents are questioning the speed of Housing New Zealand's plans for its Asquith Ave site.

As the long weekend approaches, our thoughts turn to having a break away from work - but many of us will carry on with the job while we're away.