Put offs
#1
Put offs
Hi, I just wanted to vent my thoughts really. I am really new to looking into New Zealand and from what I had previously read thought it was the ideal place for my kids. I have a son with Asthma so thought the clean air would be great. Having looked into this more thoroughly I now realise its not the dream I once thought. I have been reading that the property in NZ is really badly made/maintained, and for people with health problems damp and cold is really bad in the older houses.
I have been looking at some real estate pages and cant actually see many new properties, so my point is this. I am now really put off by the stories of chest infections, health problems because of bad housing. BUT am glad people are good enough to put the bad points on forums, without this insite I would still be merrily looking with rose tinted glassess on. For now I will continue to look around the web, definatley looking for double glazed and insulated houses thats for sure.
I have been looking at some real estate pages and cant actually see many new properties, so my point is this. I am now really put off by the stories of chest infections, health problems because of bad housing. BUT am glad people are good enough to put the bad points on forums, without this insite I would still be merrily looking with rose tinted glassess on. For now I will continue to look around the web, definatley looking for double glazed and insulated houses thats for sure.
#2
Re: Put offs
For me there is as much good housing as there is bad... yes the bad can be damp ridden, cold & and hazadous to your health... but dependant on your budget if buying straight off, you can get really good property as well. Our's has a HRV system which re cycles the air reducing mositure content in the house thus reducing condensation, reducing damp... Don't be put off, just be aware...
#3
Re: Put offs
Yeah I suppose, I am looking at the moment, just making sure to watch for double glazing and heating in the title!!
#4
Re: Put offs
Hi, I just wanted to vent my thoughts really. I am really new to looking into New Zealand and from what I had previously read thought it was the ideal place for my kids. I have a son with Asthma so thought the clean air would be great. Having looked into this more thoroughly I now realise its not the dream I once thought. I have been reading that the property in NZ is really badly made/maintained, and for people with health problems damp and cold is really bad in the older houses.
I have been looking at some real estate pages and cant actually see many new properties, so my point is this. I am now really put off by the stories of chest infections, health problems because of bad housing. BUT am glad people are good enough to put the bad points on forums, without this insite I would still be merrily looking with rose tinted glassess on. For now I will continue to look around the web, definatley looking for double glazed and insulated houses thats for sure.
I have been looking at some real estate pages and cant actually see many new properties, so my point is this. I am now really put off by the stories of chest infections, health problems because of bad housing. BUT am glad people are good enough to put the bad points on forums, without this insite I would still be merrily looking with rose tinted glassess on. For now I will continue to look around the web, definatley looking for double glazed and insulated houses thats for sure.
#5
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,787
Re: Put offs
Yes I agree with you Tableland, I remember looking at theses forums before we came out, and a lot of it as you say is a load of crap...If we took any notice of everything on here I would not have come....I stoped going on these forums until I emigrated, then i like to see what crap been written...but saying that there is a lot of good advice also...
#6
Re: Put offs
Yes I agree too. Much of what is said you have to take with a pinch of salt and make your own mind up and do your research. I think if you have health issues and you can afford to build your own, buy a nice piece of land and get lots of input from different companies. You then decide the level of insulation and heating and HRV is very good for asthma - they are upping the ante as regards building here and have some really good rules and regulations. You will find the size of new homes staggering compared to the UK at a fraction of the cost of the Uk too. I would say that if you are worried about smog and level of air that maybe you opt for country living - although log burners are popular here the government are trying to phase them out and encourage pellet fires. I would steer clear of big cities with lots of traffic, are you considering north or south?
I have never lived in such a great house as the one I am in now but it is a brand new house and we would never have had this specification in the UK in our budget.
Good Luck.
I have never lived in such a great house as the one I am in now but it is a brand new house and we would never have had this specification in the UK in our budget.
Good Luck.
#7
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Re: Put offs
[QUOTE=KoalaCaroline;6696662]Hi, I just wanted to vent my thoughts really. I am really new to looking into New Zealand and from what I had previously read thought it was the ideal place for my kids. I have a son with Asthma so thought the clean air would be great. Having looked into this more thoroughly I now realise its not the dream I once thought. I have been reading that the property in NZ is really badly made/maintained, and for people with health problems damp and cold is really bad in the older houses.
QUOTE]
Indeed. My rental would be really really unhealthy for any asthmatic. I realised one day that mold was eating it's way through the bottom of my mattress, bookcases, drawers and any other furniture....I thought it was dust but my friend knew otherwise....
Be careful what you rent in summer: I asked the landlady "is it warm in Winter?" She replied, "Oh yes!". Good one! Im outta here first chance I get - once the lease expires.
Can you get good rentals? Yeah, probably, but there are a lot of sharks out there. They're landlords - what do you expect?
QUOTE]
Indeed. My rental would be really really unhealthy for any asthmatic. I realised one day that mold was eating it's way through the bottom of my mattress, bookcases, drawers and any other furniture....I thought it was dust but my friend knew otherwise....
Be careful what you rent in summer: I asked the landlady "is it warm in Winter?" She replied, "Oh yes!". Good one! Im outta here first chance I get - once the lease expires.
Can you get good rentals? Yeah, probably, but there are a lot of sharks out there. They're landlords - what do you expect?
#8
Re: Put offs
Thanks for replies, I really just need reassurance that NZ isnt as bad as I have just read about really. Read horrible stories about bullying in schools and the state of housing. Also read that NZ'ers hate the english and are horrible to them to the point of being down right rude. Just hope its not as bad a picture as is being painted.
#9
Re: Put offs
Thanks for replies, I really just need reassurance that NZ isnt as bad as I have just read about really. Read horrible stories about bullying in schools and the state of housing. Also read that NZ'ers hate the english and are horrible to them to the point of being down right rude. Just hope its not as bad a picture as is being painted.
#10
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,454
Re: Put offs
Thanks for replies, I really just need reassurance that NZ isnt as bad as I have just read about really. Read horrible stories about bullying in schools and the state of housing. Also read that NZ'ers hate the english and are horrible to them to the point of being down right rude. Just hope its not as bad a picture as is being painted.
Good quality housing depends almost entirely on how much money you have. It exists, but there isn't so much of it and a lot of houses out here would be deemed unfit for habitation in the UK. But assuming you are coming over here with a job and some savings, you have nothing to worry about.
As for asthma, New Zealand is (with some regional variations) quite a cold, damp country with very high rates of asthma. And no amount of and 'go for it' will change that.
#11
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Re: Put offs
Thanks for replies, I really just need reassurance that NZ isnt as bad as I have just read about really. Read horrible stories about bullying in schools and the state of housing. Also read that NZ'ers hate the english and are horrible to them to the point of being down right rude. Just hope its not as bad a picture as is being painted.
#12
Re: Put offs
Although to my surprise I did get called a typical pom by a kiwi lady recently...but I have also been really surprised to find how much NZers say they hate Aucklanders ...I just don't get it....I've asked for clarification and they expect me to understand but I don't...it's just small town mentality really as found everywhere in the world....best cultivate your Kiwi friends among those who have travelled/lived away themselves and you'll find better attitudes.
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Bournemouth/Dorset
Posts: 81
Re: Put offs
Hi KoalaCaroline,
my son suffers from Asthma too.
He had bad eczema until he was 4 and then the eczema stopped and his Asthma started. Now he gets hayfever on top of it.
I went through the same worries about NZ and the Asthma rates as you do right now.
My conclusion to this is that as long as we control his Asthma and try to avoid or reduce several triggers he will be as well off as he is in the UK.
It is not like he hasn't got it in the UK (and we live right by the sea at the mo!)
Hopefully he (now 6) will grow out of it sooner than later and will be happy that his condition didn't stop us moving to a country where he can be a happy boy doing fun things with his happy and relaxed family and friends!
Maybe this outlook would work for you too?
my son suffers from Asthma too.
He had bad eczema until he was 4 and then the eczema stopped and his Asthma started. Now he gets hayfever on top of it.
I went through the same worries about NZ and the Asthma rates as you do right now.
My conclusion to this is that as long as we control his Asthma and try to avoid or reduce several triggers he will be as well off as he is in the UK.
It is not like he hasn't got it in the UK (and we live right by the sea at the mo!)
Hopefully he (now 6) will grow out of it sooner than later and will be happy that his condition didn't stop us moving to a country where he can be a happy boy doing fun things with his happy and relaxed family and friends!
Maybe this outlook would work for you too?