[KelvinAng]

Hi everyone,

After about three months of waiting since I submitted my EOI, I got an email today saying that the ITA is on its way :D That got me really excited again and I'm now off to look for possible rentals in Christchurch, where I hope to move to. I know it's still a long way off... but I can't help it!

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how I should go about doing this? I've been browsing trademe.co.nz for quite a while now, but does anyone know if the prices there are indicative of the standard rental prices in NZ? Is there any neighbourhood I should avoid?

Grateful for any advice and/or suggestions.

[JJG]

Depends what your requirements are mate.
How many rooms/schools (if so primary/secondary)/view etc..

Heres some examples :)

Suburb Price Description address gge bath age w/w Pets fence avail 3 Seaside Suburbs
City $950 3 brm new exclusive appart amazing views close to shops, cafes 163 Gloucester Street new fr,dr,w/m Now
Riccarton $480 3 brm mod twnhouse w ensuite,zoned for chch boy's & girl's High 17A Rata St dbl mod 18-Jan
Sumner $475 3-4 brm fam hme w great views,2 living,2 baths,heatpump, 65a Clifton Tce osp yes mod d/w no Now
Redcliffs $465 4brm 2 bthrm fam hme, gas fire, grt views clse to village 44 Moncks Spur Road osp yes mod end Nov
Mt Pleasant $460 4-5 brm character fam hme over looking eastury,gge, heatpump 54 Main Rd sng yes refur yes Now
Lyttelton $450 3brm mod hme w fantastic views, gas fire, open plan living 4c Harmens Rd sng yes mod d/w no 1-Dec
Redcliffs $450 2 brm refurb, 2 living rooms, log fire & dbl garage, 2 toilets 97 Beachville Rd dbl mod can do yes Now
Redcliffs $430 3 brm mod refurb hme w gas fire, sng gar, close to school 61a Main Rd sng refur yes Now
Mt Pleasant $420 3 brm hme w 2 baths,sea views,heatpump&nitestore,sng gar 3 Quarry Rd sng 21-Nov TBC
Southshore $390 3 dbl bdrm sunny mod hme w heatpump,1 min to beach,dbl gar 83 Rockinghorse Rd dbl yes refur d/w no yes 9-Dec
Sumner $330 2-3 brm sunny aprtmnt clse to beach & village w whiteware 49/11 Marriner St sng no mod fr,dr,w/m yes 3-Dec
Sumner $300 3 brm hme w study,log fire, bath, sng garage, pets ok 79a Heberden Ave sng yes no yes partly Now
Redcliffs $270 2 brm hme w heatpump, small fenced grdn, close to village, c/p 4 Beachville Rd cp yes 15-Dec

Furnished Redcliffs $480 3 brm executive hme, 2 bthrms, alarm, easy care grdn dble gar 30c Taupata St dbl yes mod all no Now

[KelvinAng]

Hi JJG,

I love Sumner but could probably never afford a place there. At present I'm looking for just one room (single), preferably furnished, for perhaps two years. That's the time I'm giving myself to "try out" New Zealand. I've been to NZ on holiday before and through my tourist glasses, it's a paradise. That's why I decided to try for PR, but you'll never know if it will eventually work out.

I'm into IT, and I like the South Island, so I hope to be able to get a job in Christchurch. I reckon the majority of IT jobs are going to be in the city centre itself, so a suburb near the city would be ideal for me. Buses servicing the suburb from the city is a must since I don't drive or ride (yet!).

A friend in Christchurch suggests for me to check out St Albans and Riccarton, and also Papanui, Shirley, Bishopdale, Avonhead, and Richmond. I wonder if anyone has any comments on these suburbs? I'm greedy, and would like a place close enough to the city as well as to nature, for the weekend tramps and bike rides (isn't this why everyone's going to NZ?) :D

I've also wondered about Addington. It's very near the city centre, very affordable room rental prices (if prices on TradeMe is of any indication) but my friend wouldn't recommend it as she believes that Addington is an old suburb and many houses there aren't well-maintained.

Any Christchurchers out there willing to share their view?

[Moorf]

Hi

Your friend in Chch is pretty spot on with good areas - St Albans could be a good area, seems many rentals around there and it's not as "posh" as its neighbours but has the same access to town and facilities.

Riccarton is busy busy busy but, if that's what you want then it's probably the better area for you. It's packed with students and shops and restaurants and motels. However, it's also on the road out of Chch to the West and very easy to get out to the countryside.

Sumner may not be as expensive as you think for flatting - there are a few big houses with rooms there that surfies rent out etc. If that's your scene then Sumner could still be an option.

Sumner also better for cycling and tramping, surfing than the inner city places you mention.

Or there are the seaside suburbs of Brighton/North New Brighton/South Shore - all serviced by bus routes straight to heart of city (these areas probably aren't the best for getting out in to the country though).

Addington - don't know much about the area.

Have you tried one of the flatting sites in NZ - for instance: http://www.flatmates-new-zealand.com/share-accommodation-christchurch.htm

HTH a little
Moorf

[KelvinAng]

Hello Moorf,

Thanks for your comments and the web site link. I've just registered and browsed through the listings, and it seems to be what I can use when I'm ready to search for a room proper.

I'm not sure if I want to move to a busy suburb, though. I'll definitely like somewhere quiet but not too far from amenities (ahh, how greedy can I be...) Perhaps a relatively quiet street in Riccarton might work for me.

I'm not into surfing but I love the beach and coastlines (perhaps a little more than the countryside). I think those of NZ are insanely beautiful. One concern I have about actually staying/living in Sumner and other seaside suburbs is job opportunities in IT. Suppose if I manage to get a job in the city centre, do you think that it is still feasible for me to be staying in one of these seaside suburbs? I wonder what the travelling times would be like (particularly if I were to be taking buses).

[Moorf]

There are many I.T. bods in Sumner - we lived there for the first 6 mths. The commute in to town is easy and there are buses all the way in to the centre from Sumner (and late ones back if you're drinking after work!). If you want a quiet, chilled out suburb with access to hills/beaches/mountain bike tracks/cliff walks plus cafes, restaurants, surf shops, bars and a cinema (albeit an olde worlde one) etc then I'd definitely recommend the place :nice1

[KelvinAng]

Actually, that sounds very good to me! You're really selling me on that one... You mentioned that rentals are affordable in Sumner, but I suppose buying a house there would be quite expensive wouldn't it? Hmmm... worth a look into :yes