[YouMeAndThree]

What % of your annual salary do you spend on rent? We are trying to figure out what a reasonable amount would be for a weekly rate based on OH's salary. Until we get his first pay packets we aren't really too sure what amount to consider (have looked at the cost of living calculator's, but not sure what 'our' actual costs are going to be, so thought % might give us a clue).

If it helps: We are going to be living in Auckland and at present thinking of the Howick area and surrounding suburbs. Starting to panic that nothing is sorted yet and OH flies out on 13th August :exit

Thanks

Lx

[Joolzr]

I've heard that a third of your income for rent/mortgage is considered affordable. We're spending a bit more than that though. OH's employers haven't gotten his salary payment right yet though so we really have no idea what our monthly income will be.... GRrrr.

I wish we'd found out what his take home pay would be before we'd budgeted. Another thing to think about is rates. We were paying 140 quid a month council tax in the UK, here that seems to be payed by the landlord so is one less expense.

Julie

[hball]

If any help, we offer a fully furnished rental and we pay the council rates, water rates, phone, broadband, and gardening. Our tenants only pay for the electricity they use and the weekly rent, however not all landlords are the same, so it pays to check.

Try looking on Trademe for an idea of rents in the area you are looking.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I've heard that a third of your income for rent/mortgage is considered affordable. We're spending a bit more than that though.

Us too....we pay about 45% of income in rent....and we're not even in a very big house. Was looking on trade-me last night at rental properties and we could rent house same size as we're in now in Christchurch area for about $170-$200 Per WEEK cheaper :eek:

[Jo Jo]

There's a guide to rents in Auckland (and other areas) that might help on the non-forum part of this site here (http://www.emigratenz.org/house-rents-auckland-central.html).

[ourquest]

It's all so relative...a salary of 600 per week and 200 rent is a 33% of salary rental, but so is 1000 rent in a 3000 per week salary, but in the latter case you will have much more left over (obviously).

So really it is a case of budgeting specifically from your perspective with your living costs based on your salary, to know what rent to pay.

Whatever you decide before you arrive is likely to seem less than perfect once you are in NZ and really get to know the areas and the housing, so maybe you can relax on this one until you can drive around with calculator and map in hand (and the steering wheel).