Understanding Non Home Owners: What It Means & Why It Matters in 2025

It’s wild: nearly half of Auckland’s working-age adults rent rather than own a home. The idea of “having your own place” used to feel like a rite of passage. Now, more people in New Zealand (and all over the world) are calling themselves non home owners. The cost of property keeps climbing faster than most paychecks, deposits are higher, and it seems like rules keep changing. What makes someone a ‘non home owner’? Is it a choice, a stage in life, or something society is pushing on a new generation? This matters more than ever, so let’s dig into what it actually means and why so many Kiwis—alongside millions globally—are in this camp.

What Does Non Home Owner Really Mean?

At its simplest, a non home owner is anyone who does not own the place where they live. Pretty straightforward, right? But once you start talking to people, you realise there’s a lot more behind it. Maybe you rent a flat with mates, lease a studio, or live with your folks to save money. Or perhaps you flat out can’t get onto the property ladder, no matter how carefully you save. Oddly enough, sometimes even people with massive income and steady jobs can't buy. The government here in New Zealand defines non home ownership as not holding the title to residential property, and the most recent Household Economic Survey backs that up: in 2024, about 41% of Auckland residents over 20 didn’t own the place where they lived.

There’s a difference between not having yet bought a house (say, you’re in your 20s and just started working) versus actively avoiding ownership because you don’t want a mortgage anchoring you down. More often, it’s less about personal preference and more about market realities: house prices shot up by over 120% in Auckland between 2011 and 2023. For every home buyer celebrating on Instagram, there are dozens more quietly heading to TradeMe for the latest rental listings.

You can be a non home owner for a thousand reasons. Maybe your family structure isn’t settled, work takes you around the country, or you’ve got other big goals (like travel, starting a business, or paying off debts). Some folks are stuck; others are flexible by choice. And it’s more common now than it’s been in generations, with the median house price in Auckland hitting $1.04 million as of late 2024. Fun fact: in the 1980s, home ownership rates in New Zealand reached about 76%—today, that number hovers closer to 65% nationwide, and far less in Auckland or Wellington.

What’s wild is how the definition of ‘home’ has shifted. Many long-term renters put as much energy into their spaces as owners do, personalizing flats and apartments. Others view their rental as a stepping stone—or a frustrating stopgap. Whether by circumstance, life choice, or economic squeeze, being a non home owner isn’t a sign you’re behind. It just means your journey looks different.

Why More People in New Zealand (and Beyond) Don’t Own Homes

Why are so many Kiwis renting or living without owning? The answers turn up in almost every dinner table conversation or big news story: house prices, income growth (or the lack of it), deposits, and sheer competition. Auckland, for example, saw its average house price more than double in just 13 years—a jump that outpaced every major city in Australasia. Renting, sharing, or living with family isn’t just for uni students anymore.

Let’s talk deposits for a second. Banks usually want 20% down for a home loan—so on a $1 million house, you need $200,000 cash, before you even think about moving costs or lawyer fees. The median take-home pay in Auckland floats around $70,000 per year. Saving that much might take close to a decade for most people, assuming you don’t have kids to support or debts to wrangle first. That gap makes home ownership feel more like a fantasy than a plan. Recent stats from CoreLogic show it now takes the average Aucklander just over 12 years to save a 20% deposit, compared to just 4 years in 2005.

Another major change? The way people work. Freelancing, side hustles, and contract jobs have exploded, but banks still like steady, full-time incomes when approving mortgages. A friend of mine, a web designer making well into six figures, got turned down for a loan simply because his contracts didn’t fit the ‘9 to 5’ mold. Plus, loans got stricter in 2021–2024 as the Reserve Bank tried to cool the property frenzy and new lending rules came in.

It’s not just a Kiwi thing. Home ownership rates are dropping across Western economies, as younger people find themselves budgeting for rising rents while facing student loans and inflation. Global numbers back it up: in the UK, about 36% of under-40s own their home versus 62% 25 years ago. US rates dropped too, especially among those under 35.

The table below shows some recent New Zealand housing stats for context:

This runaway growth in prices, paired with slowly rising wages, means more people are choosing—or forced into—non home ownership.

The Different Types of Non Home Owners

Not all non home owners fit the same mold. Sure, “renter” is the most obvious category, but there’s a lot more variety within this group than people often assume. Here’s what you’ll see if you look around Auckland (or probably any major city):

• Renters: This covers everyone from students in shared flats to families in long-term leases and professionals in brand-new apartments.
• People living with family: Think adults at home to save for a deposit, recent arrivals helping out, or multi-generational households pooling income.
• Flatting/sharing: The classic Kiwi flat share hasn’t died—it’s expanded. Young professionals, couples, even some older adults have grouped up to afford better locations, split bills, or dodge rising rent alone.
• Temporary renters: These are folks in short-term accommodation, work-related housing, or moving often for other reasons.
• Non-resident property users: People with long-term visas, students, or workers in New Zealand who rent rather than own, sometimes by law or due to temporary status.
• People in social or emergency housing: They might like to own someday, but right now, government or community assistance makes renting (or staying with others) necessary.

It's easy to paint renters as young or broke, but actually, the spectrum is way broader. Some flats are packed with investment bankers and graphic designers; some rentals are home to families who’ve lived there for decades. Plenty of older people rent too, either because they downsized or cashed out. My own mum went from a mortgage to renting her sunny Mount Eden bungalow after downsizing—she loves the freedom (and not worrying about leaky gutters).

Flatting, for example, isn’t just for students anymore. You’ll find professionals flatting together to save money for travel or a business, adults in their 30s and 40s grouping up for better location, and even parents teaming up to handle school zone pressures. Living with family is also seeing a rebound, especially for young adults trying to build up savings. Stats NZ says around 18% of Aucklanders aged 25–34 live with their parents—twice the rate from 2006. For immigrants or those between life stages (studying, career changes, new relationships), staying with family makes even more sense.

Whether you rent by month, flat with friends, or live with loved ones, you’re in “non home owner” territory—though every path has its own trade-offs involving cost, stability, and life freedom.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Non Home Owner

You might hear plenty of talk about the struggles of non home owners, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Not owning your home comes with both challenges and hidden perks. Let’s look at the ups and downs, so you’re not only seeing the bad news.

Main advantages: Non home owners aren’t tied to a 30-year mortgage, so they can be a lot more nimble. Want to move to Wellington for a new job? Easy—just give notice. Fancy spending a year in Europe or needing to care for family elsewhere? No house sale to organize, no mortgage worries. You can scope out new neighborhoods or try out city living without a lifetime commitment. The cost of repairs or sudden expenses? Not your job—the landlord’s got to handle that burst pipe or fix that leaky roof.

• Flexibility: Move locations easily for work, study, life changes, or just adventure.
• Lower upfront costs: No giant deposit, no long waits to build up savings, easier financial flexibility.
• No maintenance headaches: Homeowners fix everything; renters call landlords or agents.
• Potential for saving: Some renters manage to stash more cash by living with flatmates, splitting bills smartly, or choosing cheaper areas.

But it isn’t all upside. Ask anyone house hunting for a rental in Auckland these days—it’s tough. Rents are high, and sometimes landlords can get away with offering places that are barely up to scratch, knowing the demand is nuts. Renters deal with the risk of sudden rent hikes, losing their flat with only a few weeks’ notice, and rules about decoration or even pets. Privacy and security? Not always a given, especially in older builds with tighter arrangements or noisier flatmates.

• Uncertainty: No guarantee you can stay as long as you want. Landlords may sell, renovate, or jack up rents so you’re forced to move.
• Less control: Rules about pets, painting walls, gardens, and even who can live with you.
• Rental costs rise fast: Especially in hot markets like Auckland. Long-term tenants can eventually pay more than a mortgage would have cost.
• No equity built: All money goes to the landlord, not into your name—no asset to show for years of payments.

Owning brings its own risks: sudden repairs, market swings, mortgage stress. But non home owners must also think long-term. How will they secure a stable living situation in retirement? Will renting be as flexible in their fifties or sixties, once things like health or mobility shift? In a 2023 survey, nearly 56% of Kiwis said long-term rental security was their top housing worry.

Still, more services are popping up to help renters—stronger tenant rights, online platforms for finding good flats, and savings tools meant for non home owners. And there’s always the chance the market could shift again, making buying slightly less of a pipe dream. For now, renters are learning to get creative, set strong boundaries, and demand more from landlords and agents.

Tips for Navigating Life as a Non Home Owner

Being a non home owner isn’t something to be ashamed of. The trick is getting smart with your choices so you’re not at the mercy of rising rents or bad landlords. These tips help if you’re renting, sharing a flat, or living with family while saving up or waiting for the right opportunity:

1. Protect your rights. Learn the tenancy laws (Tenancy Services is a great source), so you know what landlords can and can’t do—especially about notices, rent raises, and bond returns in New Zealand.
2. Read every lease closely. Check for right-of-renewal clauses, break fees, and what counts as “wear and tear.” Little surprises can cost big later.
3. Ask for improvements. Don’t be shy about requesting insulation, healthy home upgrades, or even minor repairs—new rules boosted renters’ rights here in 2021. Good landlords will actually want to keep decent tenants.
4. Consider renters’ insurance. Not expensive, but it protects you from fire, flood, or theft—and sometimes even covers accidental damage you cause.
5. Save, even if it’s hard. Build a stash, even while renting. Open a high-interest account (there are banks just for this now), automate deposits, and treat saving like another bill.
6. Talk openly with flatmates or family. Put agreements in writing. Whether it’s for bills, chores, or “quiet hours,” you’ll thank yourself later if tension erupts. Share decisions, but keep communication clear.
7. Be ready to move. Have a mental checklist for packing, connections (power, internet), and key contacts handy—just in case your situation changes suddenly.
8. Track your records. Keep proof of on-time payments and good conduct. Digital rental history can help score better flats, and some landlords value reliable tenants highly.
9. Scope out area amenities. A place close to work or transport can save heaps—sometimes fixing up a slightly older rental in a good spot is smarter than splurging for a shiny new place far from everything.
10. Start planning early. If you hope to buy later, explore government programs (like KiwiSaver HomeStart), meet with a mortgage advisor, or join community co-ownership groups. The property market changes fast, so being ready means you can jump when opportunity knocks.

Being a non home owner in 2025 Auckland isn’t a failure—it reflects changing times. With more tenants than ever and new financial realities, the trick is finding security, flexibility, and some peace of mind in a market that doesn’t always play fair. Whether you’re renting, sharing, or living with family, your choices are valid and more common than you might think. The key is being informed, proactive, and willing to advocate for the life you want—even if you don’t have keys to your own front door. The property ladder is just one way—there are plenty of other ways to build a life you love, starting with smart decisions right where you are.