Know your flatting rights
Renting a flat or a room in a flat while you're studying in New Zealand can be a great experience if you know your rights and responsibilities. When renting a property, you need to have a good understanding of tenants’ rights (or renters' rights). Find out what to do if there is a problem when renting in New Zealand.
Tenants and landlords
In New Zealand, a property owner who rents their house or apartment out to other people is called a 'landlord'. The people who rent the property are called 'tenants'. The landlord and the tenants all sign a written legal document called a Tenancy Agreement(external link that opens in a new tab) that sets out how long the rental is for, how much rent the tenants will pay and any other conditions.
If you have questions, Tenancy Services(external link that opens in a new tab) has a lot of information about things like how often a landlord can increase the rent and how to leave a tenancy early.
• Leave you to live on the property and not interfere with your daily life
• Make sure the property is fit to live in and make sure things are repaired when needed
• Pay any council taxes on the property
• Have insurance for the property
• Tell you if they’re going to sell the property
• Tell you if they are planning to inspect the property or send someone to the property to do repairs or maintenance with 24 hours' notice.
• Pay a bond of up to one month’s rent, which is paid back to you at the end of the tenancy if the property is left in good condition
• Pay the rent on time, in the way that was agreed in the Tenancy Agreement (rent in New Zealand is usually paid weekly or fortnightly)
• Pay for any damage to the property
• Pay for services like electricity, gas, internet, and water in some towns and cities
• Tell the landlord if there’s anything that needs to be fixed
• Have insurance for your own things, in case of theft, fire or natural disasters like earthquakes.
Flatmates
Kiwis call people who share a rented home together 'flatmates' or ‘flatties’ for short. Depending on the size of the house you're living in, you can have one or two flatmates, or sometimes more than five!
Living with flatmates is a great way to make friends and to feel less homesick (the feeling of missing home). Some flats have nights where they all have dinner together or even movie nights!
In some cases, you won't need to sign the Tenancy Agreement to be able to live in a property. You won't legally be a tenant you'll just be a flatmate. Check with the other tenants if they need you to become a tenant or not.
As a flatmate, you're responsible to the tenant (the person you live with who has signed the Tenancy Agreement), not the landlord. This means that the tenant can ask you to move out if they’re not happy living with you, or you’re not paying your share of the rent.
Paying bills
When you flat with people you also share bills with them like electricity, gas, internet, and in some places water. Making sure that rent and bills have been paid can be hard, especially when you're living with lots of people.
The tenant is usually the person who sets up the accounts but everyone in the flat is responsible for paying rent and bills on time. Some flats manage their bills by keeping them in a place where everyone can see them (like on the fridge or kitchen table), others use online tools like Splitwise(external link that opens in a new tab) so everyone knows who has paid what.
Bills are usually paid monthly and are split evenly between flatmates, depending on the flat arrangement.
Tip: Make a note of when your rent and bills are due and set up a calendar appointment to remind you. Be sure to keep a note of when you have made payments just in case there are any problems later.
What to do if there’s a problem
Sometimes things can go wrong when you’re renting. It’s really important to know what your options are and to know how to ask for help. If there’s a problem with the landlord, or the place you’re living in:
- Write down what’s happened, in the order that it took place.
- Gather any information you have, such as your Tenancy Agreement, details of your last rent payment and photos or details relating to the issue (for example if something has broken, take a photo of it).
- Talk to the landlord about the problem – if you’re nervous, write down the main points of what you want to say and practice it with a friend or flatmate.
- If you’re uncomfortable talking to the landlord, or you’ve tried and you still have a problem, contact Tenancy Services(external link that opens in a new tab). They have lots of advice on the next steps you can take.
If there’s a problem with one of your flatmates:
- If you live with a group of people, talk to one of the other flatmates first – they might be able to help you fix the situation.
- If you’re not comfortable doing that, ask a trusted friend or classmate for advice before raising the problem with the flatmate.
- Talk to your place of study and ask if they have any counselling or housing services that can help you.
- If it’s a money problem that you can’t resolve by talking to the flatmate, you can contact the Disputes Tribunal(external link that opens in a new tab) for help.
- If you don’t feel safe with the flatmate, talk to a friend or someone you trust. If you’re at home and feel scared that they might harm you, leave the house and call the New Zealand Police(external link that opens in a new tab) on the emergency phone number 111. The police are friendly in New Zealand and they want to help you.
Tip: You can also talk to someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand(external link that opens in a new tab) about housing problems or living with others. This is a free information and advice service.
They have a free language service called InfoNOW(external link that opens in a new tab) that offers information and advice in seventeen different languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Farsi and Dari. It's available Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm. Call free on 0800 78 88 77 or you can email language@cab.org.nz(external link that opens in a new tab).
Finding a flat
If you want to learn about being independent, renting a place ('flatting') on your own or with others ('flatmates') is a sure way to learn! Get tips on how to find a flat and what to look for when finding a flat to rent.
Accommodation types
Choosing a place to live is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when you start studying in New Zealand. Here’s what you need to know about the different housing options available for international students.
Accommodation
What are your housing options in New Zealand? Find out what kind of housing is available and your rights as a tenant when living in New Zealand.