For an international student there are different options for accommodation. Use the tabs below to explore the best option for you:
Home-stay / Boarding
Student hostels
Renting in New Zealand
Boarding – also referred to as homestay – means you have a furnished room in a private home with all meals, use of all facilities (electricity and laundry) included in the quoted weekly cost.
Hosts are encouraged to help their students feel part of the family. Generally boarding means you will have your own room, with all that you need in it. Warm bed with linen, duvet and blankets and pillow provided. You will have adequate storage of your personal things, a desk with lamp and in most homes internet access on your own computer.
Your host will provide all your meals, but when you have settled you may be taught how to make your own breakfast and lunch. Depending on the host and your own willingness, your laundry will be done for you or you will be taught how to use the facilities yourself.
The host family option for accommodation is not a hostel (where you invite your mates over without permission) or a hotel (where everything is provided). Most Kiwi homes have both parents working outside the home so consideration is really important.
Homestay accommodation costs range from $250 - $340/week and can be arranged through the accommodation services team at the institution you are planning to enrol in.
Hosts are encouraged to help their students feel part of the family. Generally boarding means you will have your own room, with all that you need in it. Warm bed with linen, duvet and blankets and pillow provided. You will have adequate storage of your personal things, a desk with lamp and in most homes internet access on your own computer.
Your host will provide all your meals, but when you have settled you may be taught how to make your own breakfast and lunch. Depending on the host and your own willingness, your laundry will be done for you or you will be taught how to use the facilities yourself.
The host family option for accommodation is not a hostel (where you invite your mates over without permission) or a hotel (where everything is provided). Most Kiwi homes have both parents working outside the home so consideration is really important.
Homestay accommodation costs range from $250 - $340/week and can be arranged through the accommodation services team at the institution you are planning to enrol in.
As a general rule in New Zealand state primary and secondary schools do not have hostels or dormitories. However, many universities and polytechnics will provide hostel accommodation. The majority are fully catered, with two or three meals provided and eaten communally each day. You will share bathrooms but have your own room as your sanctuary and study place. In most cases they are on, or are short walks from, campus, and all have active social programmes. When it is time to study, hostels provide a supportive and encouraging platform.
There is a significant cost to halls of residence or hostels. A year can cost between $11,000 - $14,000 for fully catered accommodation. Self-catered options are also available in some universities and polytechnics, with students living with 3-5 others in apartment-like units with cooking facilities. These options can cost from $6,000 for the year, with food and living costs are on top of this.
You need to apply for a hostel or residential college even before you are accepted into a course at university or polytech. Applications for hostel space need to be made as early as August and September the year before you plan to study, and hostel accommodation offers are generally made to prospective students in October, even before NCEA exams start.
There is a significant cost to halls of residence or hostels. A year can cost between $11,000 - $14,000 for fully catered accommodation. Self-catered options are also available in some universities and polytechnics, with students living with 3-5 others in apartment-like units with cooking facilities. These options can cost from $6,000 for the year, with food and living costs are on top of this.
You need to apply for a hostel or residential college even before you are accepted into a course at university or polytech. Applications for hostel space need to be made as early as August and September the year before you plan to study, and hostel accommodation offers are generally made to prospective students in October, even before NCEA exams start.
It’s not always easy to find a flat or house, especially one that meets all your needs. To help you find the right property, you could:
• Search on the internet
• Look in the 'To let' column in the classifieds section of your local newspaper. In most areas, the best days to look are Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Place an ad in the paper to say you’re looking for a property
• Ask people you know if they know someone who’s looking for tenants
• Post notices locally. This could be at your local dairy, community noticeboard, supermarket, polytechnic, university or wānanga, or local social media pages
• Ask at real estate agents and property management companies.
• Search on the internet
• Look in the 'To let' column in the classifieds section of your local newspaper. In most areas, the best days to look are Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Place an ad in the paper to say you’re looking for a property
• Ask people you know if they know someone who’s looking for tenants
• Post notices locally. This could be at your local dairy, community noticeboard, supermarket, polytechnic, university or wānanga, or local social media pages
• Ask at real estate agents and property management companies.
Choosing a landlord.
It’s important to get along with your landlord so that you’re comfortable raising any issues. Before you agree to rent from them, find out as much as you can about them. Search for Tenancy Tribunal orders on the Ministry of Justice website to find out if the landlord’s been involved in disputes in the past.
Discrimination
Discrimination is unlawful under the tenancy law when it breaches the Human Rights Act. When providing accommodation, it is against the law to choose tenants based on:
• gender
• religious or ethical beliefs
• race or colour
• nationality, ethnicity, origin or citizenship
• physical or mental disability or illness
• age
• political opinion
• employment status eg, if unemployed or on a benefit
• marital and family status – including any responsibilities for dependants
• sexual orientation.
• gender
• religious or ethical beliefs
• race or colour
• nationality, ethnicity, origin or citizenship
• physical or mental disability or illness
• age
• political opinion
• employment status eg, if unemployed or on a benefit
• marital and family status – including any responsibilities for dependants
• sexual orientation.
Signing the tenancy agreement
Read the tenancy agreement carefully (including the terms and any conditions) before you sign it. Only sign a tenancy agreement when you’re sure you want the property. Keep a signed copy of the agreement and any receipts in a safe place. Make sure you have the landlord’s contact details. If you want, you can ask them to complete a contact details form.
Expect expenses up front when you first move into your flat, including:
• Furniture: many flats are unfurnished so be prepared to buy items such as a bed, desk, couch, whiteware, cutlery and appliances.
• Bond – Usually 4 weeks rent. You’ll get the bond payment refunded at the end of your tenancy, provided you leave the place in good condition. To help avoid hassles at the end of a tenancy, bonds are held by MBIE, not the landlord.
• Connection fees: You may need to pay a bond and/or a connection fee to connect your power, phone and internet.
• Bond – Usually 4 weeks rent. You’ll get the bond payment refunded at the end of your tenancy, provided you leave the place in good condition. To help avoid hassles at the end of a tenancy, bonds are held by MBIE, not the landlord.
• Connection fees: You may need to pay a bond and/or a connection fee to connect your power, phone and internet.
Who pays for what?
Paying Rent – you may pay this weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the terms of your lease. When you first rent a place you’ll need to pay two weeks’ rent in advance as well as a fee if you use an agent (letting fees are normally one week’s rent plus GST). A landlord can only ask for two weeks rent in advance.
The landlord pays local council taxes like rates.
• You, the tenant, pay day-to-day running costs like electricity or gas.
• Some homes have water meters, in which case tenants must also pay for the water they use.
• Insurance: If you’re renting, the landlord is responsible for insuring the building. You are responsible for getting cover for your own possessions and liability for any damage they may cause to the property.
• When you are renting you will need to pay for all your services like power, gas, phone, internet and tv.
The landlord pays local council taxes like rates.
• You, the tenant, pay day-to-day running costs like electricity or gas.
• Some homes have water meters, in which case tenants must also pay for the water they use.
• Insurance: If you’re renting, the landlord is responsible for insuring the building. You are responsible for getting cover for your own possessions and liability for any damage they may cause to the property.
• When you are renting you will need to pay for all your services like power, gas, phone, internet and tv.
Paying rent and bond
Rent is what you pay to the landlord for the right to live in a property. You will normally pay either weekly or fortnightly.
The bond can be up to four weeks’ rent. It is held by Tenancy Services for the length of the tenancy. If you look after the property and pay your rent you should get the bond refunded at the end of the tenancy.
It’s important to work out what you can afford before renting a property. For example, if your weekly rent is $250 you may need to pay upfront costs of:
• four weeks’ rent as bond ($1,000) and
• two weeks’ rent in advance ($500).
It’s important to work out what you can afford before renting a property. For example, if your weekly rent is $250 you may need to pay upfront costs of:
• four weeks’ rent as bond ($1,000) and
• two weeks’ rent in advance ($500).
What is a 'tenant'?
If you have signed a tenancy agreement with a landlord, you’re a tenant. You’re legally responsible for the place. Tenants are jointly responsible for all the rent and any damage, not just their own share.
What is a ‘flat mate’?
If someone else signs the tenancy agreement but lets you share the flat, you are a flatmate. Flatmates live in the property but are not part of the tenancy agreement.
Flatmates are not responsible to the landlord for the rent and the state of the property. They are responsible to the tenant for their share of the rent.
Flatmates are not responsible to the landlord for the rent and the state of the property. They are responsible to the tenant for their share of the rent.
What is a Pre-tenancy application?
Landlords should ask potential tenants to complete a pre-tenancy application form. This form includes important information that helps them choose a tenant. Information often asked for includes:
• their name and contact details
• where they’re living now and their renting history
• ID details
• references you can contact to find out more about them.
Many landlords will also want to do a credit check. You will need to give permission before they do a check. A credit check report will usually give the following information:
• full name and date of birth
• any known aliases
• information about their occupation and employer
• their involvement in payment defaults, collection actions, court judgements, bankruptcies or other public notices information
• other recent addresses
• cross-references to other credit enquiries made against them
• their credit rating.
• their name and contact details
• where they’re living now and their renting history
• ID details
• references you can contact to find out more about them.
Many landlords will also want to do a credit check. You will need to give permission before they do a check. A credit check report will usually give the following information:
• full name and date of birth
• any known aliases
• information about their occupation and employer
• their involvement in payment defaults, collection actions, court judgements, bankruptcies or other public notices information
• other recent addresses
• cross-references to other credit enquiries made against them
• their credit rating.
What is an ‘initial property inspection’
Property inspections are important. Tenants and landlords should check the property together at the start of a tenancy to avoid problems later on. During the inspection it’s a good idea to take photos. This can help show the condition of the property. Building a good relationship is important during the property inspection. Inspecting the rental together shows that everyone wants to help and be honest. This is also a great chance to ask questions or mention any maintenance problems. Both the landlord and tenant(s) should sign, date, and keep a copy of the property inspection report.
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