My kids needed a roof over their head, but I couldn't provide that in this rental market. (File photo)

I couldn't find a house with my kids - Jessica Carter

As a single mother of two young children, I was forced out of my rental home because every six months my landlord would put up my rent.

When it was about to go up to $750 per week I knew it was time to hand in my notice and look for a more affordable place to live.

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I looked at and applied for several houses, units, and apartments a week. To my shock, I was rejected from them all. I was told a single income wasn't what the owners want.

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I did this for three months before I had to sit down with the father of my children and his partner at the time and discuss my last resort plan.

One week before my tenancy agreement was up, I packed my children's things and moved them in with their father.

It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but my kids needed a roof over their head, and I couldn't provide that in this rental market.

The agreement we had was I would have another three months to find a house and take the kids back with me.

Suffice to say, it took a lot longer than that. My daughter turned 5 and started school, and I still had no home.

It took me 18 months to find a home for them and I only managed it with the help of a friend who went on the lease and moved in with me. Now my daughter is starting her second year of school and my son is about to start his first year.

Without help from my friend I wouldn't have my kids back with me, and I'd still be couchsurfing.

Families can't compete in the rental market - Tania Watkins

No matter who you are, the housing situation in New Zealand is not great - but being a renter with children is probably the worst.

Singles or childless couples have options. They can jump on the fad of tiny houses easily enough. They can rent a studio apartment or a room in a house.

When you're only responsible for yourself, you can get as creative as you want.

Add a child or two, and your options suddenly become a lot more limited.

Yes, you could cram into a tiny house. But does any parent really think that's a viable option? Especially if they are teenagers. Or in the terrible threes ... You would have to really, really like kids.

Or you could try flatting. But what about the people you're living with? They may not appreciate the tantrums, or navigating the Lego gauntlet down the hallway in the middle of the night.

So you go to look at a family-sized house - but you're competing with childless, double-income couples, and little Sarah and Mike running around the house during the viewing aren't helping your cause with the potential landlord.

You might only be on one income because mum or dad is looking after bubs, or you can't get a job that would pay enough to justify putting your brood in childcare. You really need that extra bedroom because you just want to stop the fighting at night.

But that childless couple wants the house too. And they don't have children to 'wreck' it.

And the world says "Oh well, the landlord has the right to choose who lives in their house, just like you chose to have children".

So the children carry on living in unsuitable accommodation, because when mum and dad keep getting turned down, they don't have a choice.