WCC Mayor

 

PHOTO: KEVIN STENT/STUFF Lester says the council needs to act on house prices.

Wellington’s rents have surpassed Auckland’s and the city’s Mayor is promising a major council intervention to bring them down if he is re-elected.

Housing data shows sharp rent increases over the past year have driven Wellington’s rents higher than Auckland’s.

Rents were roughly equal between the two cities a year ago but since then median rent in Auckland has increased from $611 to $627 but in Wellington it jumped from $613 to $658, according to data from Homes.co.nz.

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