[mikewalkerfrom]

Hiya,

Quick question if anyone's got a sec.

If you rent in NZ, do you have to pay the council tax (rates) or does the landlord pay them? I assume you only pay house contents insurance also...

Is their anything else you dont have to pay?

Cheers!
Mike

[jubjub]

I am pretty sure the landlord pays the rates, we certainly never paid any while we rented.

You need to pay water, leccy, gas, phone etc, although some will include water as well.

You will need to take out house contents insurance.

[LesleyS]

Our landlord pays the rates including the water. We just pay a weekly rent (with a pre paid bond) plus bills for electric, phone and internet....oh and refuse collection!

[holland]

Yes, we only pay what Lesley pays...

Apparently insurance wise..the landlords pay it ( this may just be us so dont quote us), but we've got insurance for our stuff and for personal cover, as if there is a fire/leak etc the landlords insurance will hold us liable...I think!!

J x

[Chiba]

The DBH site's a good reference:

http://www.dbh.govt.nz

[CJ22]

I don't think there's any hard-and-fast rule that says the landlord HAS to pay the rates, but they generally do. Just ask.

As in the UK, the landlord will generally cover buildings insurance and it's up to you to pay contents insurance.

[frittfam]

hi

Yup landlord pays rates. Tenant pays power, water, and you need your own insurance for contents and personal effects

Greg

[mikewalkerfrom]

Thanks everyone!