Summary of the Auckland Council technical report, TR2024/6 Life in Medium Density Housing in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland 

The Life in Medium Density Housing in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland study was undertaken by Auckland Council’s Economic and Social Research and Evaluation team and Tāmaki Makaurau Design Ope (TMDO) in 2023.The primary purpose of the research was to investigate how Aucklanders are experiencing living in recently built medium density housing (MDH).

The results of this research will support everyone involved in the delivery of housing in Auckland (including Auckland Council, central government, developers) to improve future MDH, and ultimately the wellbeing of Aucklanders, through consenting processes, design guidance and land use planning. It will also enable better informed choices by Aucklanders looking to live in MDH.

This study involved a number of methods including a rapid literature review, geospatial analysis to identify recently developed MDH across the Auckland region, an online survey of 1337 participants living in MDH, analysis of the consented plans of 110 properties whose residents participated in the survey, and 20 in-depth in-home immersions which collectively provides a comprehensive view of how people experience their MDH.

This report is divided into 10 chapters and appendices:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Legislation and policy context
Chapter 3: Research method and sample
Chapter 4: Indoor spaces for living
Chapter 5: Storage, laundries and bathrooms
Chapter 6: Outdoor living spaces
Chapter 7: Indoor environment
Chapter 8: Carparking and vehicle storage
Chapter 9: Shared facilities
Chapter 10: Discussion and recommendations
Appendices

Key findings

Medium density housing is meeting some of the needs of some households. Smaller households of one or two adults were more likely to report that aspects of their home are ‘meeting’ or ‘more than meeting’ their needs, compared to larger households with children. This pattern of more positive responses from smaller households without children is found across many of the aspects considered in this study (e.g. storage, size of spaces, privacy). To better meet the needs of a wider range of households, the study found that greater diversity in MDH is needed.

The average size of homes was found to be smaller than best practice guidelines. Over half of the 110 consented plans analysed as part of this study had internal floor areas smaller than the ADM recommended minimums (which are smaller than other NZ and Australian best practice guidance considered). The allocation of floor area to different spaces was not always aligned with best practice guidelines. The floor area of living spaces tended to be smaller, while the floor area for bathrooms was greater than ADM recommendations.

The ADM and AUP apply the same minimum unit areas to all housing typologies including standalone houses, duplexes, terraced houses and apartments. This is not a good indicator of usable space, due to differences in circulation requirements - e.g. two and three level homes require stairs and hallways, while single level homes (often apartments) do not.

Storage is inadequate for many households. Over half of all participants reported that they had insufficient storage for general household items (e.g. vacuum), linen, kitchen equipment and food, and occasional items (e.g. suitcases). For example, some kitchens were not fit for purpose, as they did not have a pantry, which resulted in participants adding cupboards to dining spaces or garages. This can restrict the use of the dining space for dining and garage for carparking. The study also found that the functionality of outdoor living spaces as spaces for living activities (e.g. dining, play, socialising) can be reduced when they are used for storage of items that are not able to be accommodated within the home.

Lounges were found to be 10m² smaller than best practice guidance. The arrangement of furniture in lounges can be restricted in terraced houses and duplexes due to a narrow room width, the location of power points, doors and windows, and a need to leave space for people to move around furniture or access other spaces in the home. This is compounded when lounges are also used for storage.

The flow-on effects of insufficient built-in storage and inflexible lounges has a greater impact on larger households, which tend to be those with children. Smaller households can have greater ability to mitigate these effects through using ‘spare bedrooms’ for storage and living activities.

Some households have more bathrooms than they need. Over half of the consented plans for 2- and 3-bedroom homes analysed showed one bathroom and/or WC (a separate toilet) per bedroom, which is one more bathroom or WC than is recommended by the ADM. It was also found that these ‘spare bathrooms’ were often being used for storage or drying laundry.

Upper levels of terraced houses and duplexes are too hot in summer. The combination of large windows, small window openings, solar orientation, reduced natural ventilation and minimal shade provision (e.g. eaves, established trees) are resulting in homes that are too hot in summer.

Participants were dissatisfied with hot temperatures as they cause uncomfortable sleeping conditions and could lead to heat related health implications. Participants reported making changes to cool their homes such as keeping curtains closed, windows open, purchasing free-standing fans and air conditioning units, or installing ceiling fans, heat pumps and air conditioning units. These changes have a financial cost (installation cost as well as ongoing running costs) as well as taking up space, which prevents other uses (e.g. ducting for air conditioning in wardrobes prevents storage of clothes) and may be contributing to an urban heat island effect. The occurrence of hot homes may increase as our climate changes and Auckland experiences warmer temperatures.

Nearly half of all participants in terraced houses and duplexes made changes to improve privacy within their home. This included keeping curtains and blinds closed during the day, using furniture to block views and adding film or frosting to windows. This can diminish the positive safety benefits of people overlooking public and semi-public spaces.

Outdoor living spaces are highly valued by participants. However, almost half of those with an outdoor space reported it was not large enough for their needs.

Many households have more cars than off-street parking spaces. Due to a lack of parking spaces within a property, cars are often parked on streets (including illegally on berms and footpaths), at very specific angles and positions on driveways, and in front yards. This results in properties and neighbourhoods that participants reported as being unsafe for pedestrians, a security concern for cars, and as generally unpleasant. Some participants reported needing to use a car as non-car transport modes do not meet their needs.

Only half of households with a garage use it for carparking and garages are important multi-functional spaces. For those households with a garage and at least one car, half used it for purposes other than parking their car including storage, exercise, as a study and for other living activities.

Some households were not able to have friends and whānau visit or do other things that were important to them. Having friends or whānau visit, hosting parties and doing hobbies were important activities for many participants. However, due to a lack of space (including storage for hobby equipment) and visitor carparking many households reported that they were not able to do these activities comfortably, or at all.

Auckland Council technical report TR2024/6 summary, September 2024

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See also

Life in medium density housing in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland