[RoadRunner]

Can anyone explain what the rental market is like in Wellington?

I am used to the US where you rent an apartment in a large apartment building. Most apartment buildings have a mix of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and even 3-bedroom units. Each unit is something you rent by yourself. You have your own kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.

It seems that most of the "flats" I see in flatfinder or other online search engine are a bunch of strangers each renting one bedroom in a large house. Is that what I should expect if I want to rent something?

Do they have long-term motel-type rentals (think Residence Inn type of setup)?

Or what about renting a bedroom/bathroom in a house in which a family might be renting out a lower floor (where you have your own key/access)?

I just don't know what exists so I'm sorry if I'm using all the wrong terms!

I was hoping to find something temporary for a couple of months while I look for a job (and a house to buy!). My husband would follow later.

Any advice is appreciated!

RoadRunner

[Jodie]

Hi Roadrunner,

Yes you can rent self-contained apartments in apartment blocks where you have your own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, lounge etc, and they can be anything from 1 bedroom. I think the sites that you are looking at are for people looking for a room to rent in a house that's already occupied, hence having to share the kitchen, bathroom etc. This tends to be a lot cheaper than renting a whole place on your own.

We looked around when we forst got here and found that for a small 1 bedroom apartment in the city you're looking at around $300 per week, whereas we're renting a 2 bedroomed house in Johnsonville with garden, car park (kiwi for parking space!), and 10-20 mins drive from the city for $230 per week. So you get a lot more for your money out in the suburbs as you'd expect, but it just depends what you want really - apartment style living in the middle of the city, or somewhere bigger with a bit of land a bit further out.

When you get here, if you get the Dominion Post (especially on Saturdays - loads of ads!), or the Wellington Renter which you can pick up at selected shops, you'll find a big choice of places available to rent, but be warned - the good places go really quickly. We bought the Dominion one Saturday and phoned some places Sunday morning, and all the good ones had gone on Saturday, so get in quick! You might be able to look at rentals on the stuff.co.nz website - if you try looking at the Dominion post section, or just try searching round a bit - might be able to find something. Otherwise, it's the actual paper when you get here.

Oh yeah, and make sure that you get somewhere that's North facing - so you get the best of the sun. Otherwise the winter could be really cold indoors! :no

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Jod
:cheers

[RoadRunner]

Jodie,
Thanks! That's extremely helpful! I think we'll look at the apartment blocks in Johnsonville - that way I can get an idea if we'd like to buy there, too!

Many thanks! :cheers
RoadRunner