ANZ has tightened its affordability criteria for investor lending and will only count 65% of rental income when assessing new mortgages, marking the first major change from a big four bank since the Government's housing reforms.

Tighter loan-to-value ratio (LVR) rules have already had a significant dampening on investors.

Downward pressure continues in the mortgage market – SBS Bank has slashed its one-year fixed home loan to 2.19%, the third lowest rate in New Zealand.

As office tenants reassess their existing and future space needs amid changing expectations around what workplace environments should look like, and adjusted bottom-line budget realities, there has been some notable corresponding changes in office property market fundamentals.

Landlords who parked and lived in a caravan at their tenant’s property and then tried to evict him when he told them to go have been ordered to pay compensation and exemplary damages.

Landlords cannot ignore their maintenance obligations even when a sale and purchase agreement with a tenant to buy their property becomes unconditional.

Recent entrants to the housing market are vulnerable to rising interest rates, and 5% home loans could swallow up 50% of new buyers' household income, according to the Reserve Bank.

The Reserve Bank is ready to tighten lending restrictions if the dampening effect of reintroduced LVRs does not rein in soaring house prices.

ANZ has seen manic home loan volumes and mortgage advisers are accounting for a greater share of its business.

Rotorua landlords who wanted compensation of $3,500 for a Mitsubishi Canter stolen from their tenancy premises have been knocked back.

House prices are still streaming upwards, increasing by 3.1% across the country last month.