shocked kiwi

The earthquakes in Christchurch have caused a shortage of houses in the city which is a problem as workers are moving to the region so a property developer has come up with a new idea to convert shipping containers into pod accommodation.

They are $250 per week to rent, or buy a whole pod for $45 thousand dollars. It has a single king bed, a kettle and microwave tv and bathroom.

www.thepods.co.nz

Would you be keen to live in one? Good idea or not?

Catchafire

Reminds me of my bedsit days.

If I was single and looking to make some money, then yes. It looks functional and comfortable, not much room to swing a cat, but possible if you do it underarm.

Conor79

I'd say $250 a week for a glorified cell is a bit steep

shocked kiwi

yes but compared to other prices will be quite cheap. Some (but of course not all) landlords have put up their prices by a lot and I heard about caravans being rented for $700 per week.

paddy234

I see online, even the like's of gumtree for example it's $150-$250 for a room to rent with electric, internet, satellite tv etc included in price. Obviously these pod's are merely temporary accommodation until more house's are built but i still believe it's too expensive. I have seen aswell online the like's of one bedroom apartment's for around the same price. There doesn't appear to be an extreme shortage of accommodation if judging by these several site's

shocked kiwi

I just rang up to enquire about them and they are apparently a concept that also might be rolled out in Auckland to help with the housing shortage there and to provide "cheap accom" for those that can't afford to live in the more conventional accom.

shocked kiwi

that's good.

jmh

LOL - yeah right. Do a quick google and you'll find plenty of apartments available in Auckland for $250 a week.

Here's one with a pool, gym, sauna and tennis courts, discounted from $245 to $180: http://www.realestate.co.nz/2044110

MrsFychan

hardly a new idea. other countries have been doing this for years.

also saw a programme where a family had built a whole house out of shipping containers, can't remember what country it was in though.

GS.83

they are being marketed at an investment opportunity, they are temporary for 9 years then the land lease expires but you get to keep the pod.

If occupied for the full period then potential to make $72000 minus any maintenance, seems a bit of a risky investment though.

GS.83

I wouldn't say there is a shortage but high demand, going to an open home in chch can be quite an experience, was at one fairly recently with another 30 people at it, that was only one out of two/three open homes at the same property.
Seen others which on the application say "how much would you be willing to pay for this property?"

Snap Shot

I thought you do anything except sleep in a cargo container/pod in Britain ? That means not staying overnight in one.

ChrisWilson7

More creative container fun in Chch, fantastic . Not sarcasm, it's genuinely great to see what people have done with them!

Bo-Jangles

I remember they built the uber trendy Container City out of them in London's Docklands in early 2000s. They're now used all over the place for offices, school buildings and such like.

Over here I recall there was talk of using them to use them for prison cells but can't remember if that actually went ahead afterall.

Snap Shot

Is that it ? It's all a bit, 'the emperors new clothes' isn't it ? A double layer of ballast filled containers as a with-holding wall at the foot of the cliffs at Redcliffs.

Then more containers as useable space in Christchurch as they are considered to be in fashion presently. Yes, I have see the advert for, 'Royal Wolf' shipping containers.

It's only a metal box. Have the mobile home parks at various sites around Christchurch been finished yet ? Y'know the ones that were being built to, 'ease' the housing crisis ? Really ? Who knew ?

Makes me wonder where all the money that's been spent is being spent. On pies for Gerry Brownlee by the look of it !