How to find housing in New Zealand, from hostels to flatmates

Chapter 2 of 4

You can rent a room, an entire apartment or even a house for a few days or weeks through word of mouth, friends of friends, Facebook or websites like Airbnb. This type of short-term accommodation is cheaper and more comfortable than a standard bland hotel room. It’s also a chance to meet local people and get tips about the city or the area.

If you decide to settle for a while, for example, to work, it may be worthwhile to officially become a tenant.

The most popular (and cheaper) solution among Kiwi students and working holiday makers from all over the world is to share an apartment or house. Your room can be furnished or unfurnished, and all costs are shared (electricity, Internet, etc.) if not already included in the rent. Flat-sharing is a great way to meet people when you arrive in a new city.

Sleepouts, studios or one-bedroom apartments give you more independence, but you’re responsible for all the bills and you may have to buy some furniture. Furnished, fully equipped apartments (usually called “apart hotels”) are available but they are usually of a higher standard and at a higher price.

Rent is quoted weekly. You can check the market rates by region, city and district on the New Zealand Government Tenancy Services page. For example, in Auckland Central, the median rent for a room in a shared apartment is NZ$275/week.

How to find a rental

Trade Me and Post a Note are the two main online classifieds sites.

Rental ads are also posted in supermarkets, hostels and any other places visited by backpackers or students (car markets, bars, universities, etc.). You can also check Marketplace or local groups such as “Queenstown Rentals” on Facebook, for example.

If you’re staying in a hostel at the beginning of your trip, don’t hesitate to tell your roommates or other travellers that you’re looking for a rental. If they’re also looking, they can share info and maybe become future roommates.

Watch out for housing scams, especially online. Read Common scams to avoid during your working holiday abroad for more details. 

How to sign a lease

Although there are two types of tenancy in New Zealand, most are periodic. The lease is signed for an indefinite period, and the tenant can terminate it by giving 21 days’ notice. For a fixed-term tenancy, you and the landlord sign up for a fixed term, and you can’t break the lease before the term.

The landlord must provide you with a tenancy agreement form, and you will keep a copy. It’s often based on this official template. Make sure you understand the agreement and agree with the terms before you sign it. The landlord or your roommates may ask you to commit to a certain period (usually six months). For a shorter period, the rent will probably be higher.

A property inspection report is usually supplied with the tenancy agreement. It should document the condition of the property, as well as all the furniture and equipment provided.

You will have to pay:

• a deposit (“bond”), equivalent to a maximum of 2 or 4 weeks’ rent
• rent in advance (maximum of two weeks)
• the agency fee (“letting fee”) if you used an estate agent (generally equivalent to one week’s rent + taxes)

For the deposit, you must complete a bond lodgement form with your landlord. You will fill out a bond refund form when you leave the property to get your deposit back (if you don’t have any rent due and there’s no damage to the property).

How to join a flatshare

Moving into a shared apartment is often a little less formal than renting a place on your own. You won’t necessarily have to fill out and sign all the documents mentioned above. Nevertheless, to avoid any surprises, be sure to discuss the terms of the shared tenancy with the other tenants and/or the landlord—payment of rent and housekeeping (cleaning, etc.).

Don’t hesitate to ask for a copy of the agreement or any other document if you have any concerns.

Ads generally show a price for one person in a room. If you’re a couple or sharing the room with a friend, the rent may be a little higher than for a single person, mainly because of the second person’s use of utilities. However, under no circumstances should the rent be doubled.

Many ads stipulate whether the owner accepts smokers or not (“no smoking,” “no smoking even outside”). You can always ask if smoking is allowed outside the house (in the backyard, for example). New Zealand is strongly against tobacco use and many landlords don’t accept tenants who smoke.

In a shared flat, it’s common for housemates to ask for a commitment of several months to avoid repeating the new housemate search too often. For example, you may be asked to stay for at least three, four or six months. Don’t hesitate to make this clear from the outset.

How to pay the rent

The landlord cannot ask you to pay more than two weeks’ rent in advance. The landlord is entitled to change the rent every 180 days.

Home and property insurance

There is no legal obligation for landlords to insure the property. However, they must provide insurance information to their tenants, including whether or not the property is insured. 

Even if the property is insured, the policy won’t cover your belongings or damage you caused intentionally or through negligence. You may want to consider tenant insurance to cover stolen or damaged personal items and liability for careless damages to the property.

How to furnish a rental

Once again, ads on Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace can help you find second-hand furniture. Second-hand shops such as the Salvation Army also sell furniture at reduced prices.

If you want to invest in new furniture, The Warehouse stores offer everything from furniture to home essentials. The New Zealand Yellow Pages can also help you find your nearest furniture store. Forget about IKEA stores, there aren’t any down there!

New Zealand real estate expressions in standard English

• Flatting = sharing a house or an apartment (with flatmates, obviously)
• Sleepout = external covered bedroom separate from the main house
• Self-contained sleepout = bedroom + bathroom + kitchen separate from the main house
• Periodic Tenancy = the tenancy continues as long as the owner and tenant don’t break the lease.
• Fixed Term Tenancy = The duration of the tenancy is defined in the lease agreement.