The Christchurch rental drought?

The Press reports:

An “immediate” solution to the housing crisis that has crippled some Christchurch families and created a new “working poor” has been delivered to the Government. …

She founded the Canterbury Affordable Housing Trust to carry out her plan and hoped the Government would provide funds to help.

Working families who were not eligible for Government support had been the hardest hit in the rental drought, she said.

Obviously rental prices have gone up in Christchurch. Personally I don’t think much of landlords who have massively hiked rents. But the issue is whether or not there are affordable houses for rent in Christchurch.

Trade Me has the following rental properties listed:

• Up to $300/week – 167
• $300 – $350 – 140
• $350 – $400 – 148
• $400 – $450 – 108
• $450 – $500 – 69
• $500+ – 195

And no they are not all or even mostly one bedroom places. Around 70% are three or more bedrooms.