Abstract
New research shows that landlords in Aotearoa New Zealand often set restrictive limits on how many people can live in a rental home, regardless of public health guidance. These limits are usually one more person than the number of bedrooms, for example, six people in a five-bedroom house, leaving larger homes underused and making it harder for families to find suitable housing.
Such limits can increase housing costs per person, prevent tenants from sharing rent or caring for family and friends, and even force families apart, preventing the social and financial benefits of multi-generational and shared living. They have also been used to discriminate against families with children and Māori or Pacific households, disproportionately affecting multi-generational homes.
Our research highlights that occupancy limits often work to protect property rather than health, creating stress, insecurity, and risk of eviction. Reforming tenancy law to align with public health standards and cultural values would prevent only true overcrowding while giving tenants greater control over who they live with and fairer access to housing.