The turbo-charging of rates must stop

The turbo-charging of rates must stop
A new area is now rates affordability. (Image: Getty)
Cameron Bagrie
What is going to be the appetite of homeowners to keep paying turbo-charged local authority rate rises? We talk about housing affordability, but a new area is now rates affordability. You can afford the mortgage but not the rates and insurance on top.That looks set to be a defining issue with local authority elections set for 2025, which are not too far away.Getting people to pay more is the easy lever councils pull until voters eventually baulk, and then other options such as asset recycling (sale and reinvest) or council consolidation mi...

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Staff reporters 16 Apr 2025