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Natalie Robinson

Guest writer

Natalie Robinson is a Policy Analyst working in local government. She lives in Northland.

We need to talk about housing – minus the lectures

We need to talk about housing – minus the lectures

When Natalie Robinson shared her journey to home ownership on The Spinoff earlier this year the responses included snark, unsolicited advice and shame. Now she says we need to keep talking about New Zealand's housing crisis, but without the antagonism.

By Natalie Robinson | 31st August, 2017

A woman looks at adverts in the window of an estate agent in London on August 17, 2016
From computers and cars to carpets and food, Britain’s decision to leave the EU is beginning to hit consumers in the pocket, having already spread uncertainty through the property market. There are fears over the UK housing market, but deflation is more of a concern than price rises in this key sector. Figures released Monday showed that residential rents for new lets in London had fallen for the first time in six years. In addition, homeowners have seen the value of their property rise on average by just 2.1 percent in the year up tol August, a slowdown from the breakneck growth of recent years, according to property website Rightmove.
/ AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Two incomes. Moved out of the city. 20% deposit. Why won’t any bank lend to us?

Rent week: a reader shares the story of her struggles to buy a house. She's done everything you're supposed to do as an aspirant home-owner – yet the banks won't lend to her. Here she shares her story.

By Natalie Robinson | 26th March, 2017