Ultimately the market will decide Wanganui house rental prices, and not necessarily landlords facing new regulations and cost of living increases.
Wanganui rental property managers canvassed by the Chronicle predicted most landlords were likely to absorb any increases rather than face empty rental properties.
The managers were responding to a warning of
big rent rises in the near future by the Property Investors Federation as landlords lose the right to claim depreciation on their properties.
The federation also pointed to the 1.1 per cent rise in the cost of living over the September quarter, while rents rose by just 0.5 per cent.
A spokesman for The Rent Centre in Wanganui said while many landlords on its books wanted to increase rents, the reality was that the marketplace dictated.
"Yes, many landlords are grizzling about increasing costs and want to raise rents but it's tough. It comes down to supply and demand and people will go elsewhere rather than pay more rent," the spokesman said.
"If every landlord across the board raised rents, they might get away with it, but if just one or two do it, then people will go elsewhere. The reality is that the market will decide."
The Rent Centre has had the smallest list of empty properties on its books in recent times and was aiming to retain that advantage.
Meanwhile, Professionals manager Steve Carkeek said he had heard of only one landlord contracted to the company who wanted to raise rents.
"The others I think will absorb rising costs and the loss of the right to claim depreciation.
"I'm a landlord myself and I'll be absorbing it. Generally speaking, the new depreciation regulations won't make much difference to Wanganui rents," Mr Carkeek said.
Property Brokers manager Philip Kubiak agreed that the market ultimately decided.
He said: "There's been no marked rent increases, or even suggestions of increases, although some may filter through closer to the introduction of the depreciation regulations next year.
"I think Wanganui landlords are just pleased to have people living in their properties."
