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Why Not Rent
A discussion on the rival merits of renting versus purchase. A 1976 'preferences survey' carried out by the Housing Commission found that 95% of the 2000 people questioned preferred to own their own housing. However mortgage repayments can be up to 55% of an owner's income, placing them under great stress, so is the decision to purchase entirely rational?
Panellists are: David Thornes, Lecturer in Sociology, University of Canterbury; Barry Smith, National Housing Research Fellow, Sociology, University of Canterbury; Ralph Chapman, Economist, University of Auckland.