A Papamoa family has been forced to move from their home, as a result of rising living costs in the area.

Deana Franks says her family's rent has gone up by $85 in 2.5 years.

'We're having to move away because our wages aren't keeping up with our expenses,” she says.

'Our wages haven't gone up that much and the prices to buy a house is just way out of our reach.

'My husband is in fulltime work and I do 32 hours a week.”

Deana says Papamoa is no longer the place she once knew.

'When I moved to Papamoa 20 years ago, it had a population of about 4500 now it's about 20,000.

'My husband grew up in Arataki, and they used to come to Papamoa for day trips because it was just an old dirt road.

'It's just ridiculous now, I'm over it.

'Through my kid's school I've heard of a few people moving - my son has had a few friends that have left.

'I've got friends that have moved to Australia, and friends that have grown up here in their old family homestead on Papamoa Beach Road who have sold it and are now moving to Te Puna.

'It doesn't have that same community feel anymore, no one knows anyone.”

She says her family has lived in various different rentals in Papamoa but feels they ‘missed the boat' on buying a house.

'Years ago you got to choose the rental, now the landlords get to choose the tenants and there's nothing around now that's affordable.

'Since we've handed our notice in they've put this on the rental market.

'When we moved in we were paying $350 which I thought was expensive back then, right now we're paying $435 and they're putting it up to $500.

'It needs a lot of work done too. These houses are about 30 years old and the whole house needs redecorating, it's been a rental for years.

'It's in shocking condition really,” says Deana.

'Neither of the showers have ever shut properly, so no matter how many towels you put down the floor gets wet and it's made from particle board, so I'm surprised one of the showers hasn't gone through the floor.

'A guy who came around recently to install insulation says it's got very little at least beneath the floor, our ceilings we don't have cavities so there's no ceiling insulation.

'From what I gather the people who own our house have owned it for quite a number of years, I wouldn't imagine they would have much/if any mortgage left on it so I don't see why they would need to put the rent up that much.

'I think a lot of locals are feeling that around here that landlords are just being greedy – and most landlords don't live here.

'Most landlords especially in these old houses would own them outright, most of them have been owned for many years by the same people.”

Deana and her family are now planning to move to Manawatu.

'We're moving down to Himutangi beach, down by Foxton. You can still buy a house down there for under $250,000

'Rent is under $200 a week and they're all on 800sqm sections, there's only 600 people living in the little community.”

'Our son who has ADHD, so going back to an old school a little classroom is going to be way better.

'I am looking forward to it now but initially, none of us wanted to move,” says Deana. 'We're right in with the rugby in Papamoa – but it's just what we've got to do.

'We're sick of living week to week, if our car breaks down we don't having savings to pay for it to get fixed outright – so we have to do something.

'It's sad we have to leave, but it's just getting too big for its own boots out here.”

She says she doesn't believe there is a solution to the rising cost of living.

'There's nothing you can do now.

'Aucklanders are getting pushed out up there, so they're coming here, now we're getting pushed out of here, so we're going down there – it's just a roll on affect.