[1979vanessa]

I've been in touch with an estate agent in NZ and they insist that I will need a previous landlord reference to be able to rent in NZ. Having explained that I'm a homeowner in the UK and haven't rented for years, they keep insisting I still need to provide references. I'm just not sure who to approach and what they would need to say.

[TonnyTessa]

I had something similar, and my boss said he would give me a 'character' reference (actually had the same happen in the UK and a friend gave me one). Maybe something like that would help? In the end my end my estate agent didn't need the reference so not sure if the one from the boss would have been okay, but worth a try. Or perhaps if you had a cleaner in the UK, they could give you a reference? Just trying to think of some ideas :)

[IanW99]

I've been in touch with an estate agent in NZ and they insist that I will need a previous landlord reference to be able to rent in NZ. Having explained that I'm a homeowner in the UK and haven't rented for years, they keep insisting I still need to provide references. I'm just not sure who to approach and what they would need to say.

I guess that it all may have changed, but when we rented our first property in NZ, we weren't asked for any references and we didn't provide any either and it wasn't a problem. So it is (or at least was) possible to rent without having references.

I would try a different estate agent if they won't budge on this, or ask them what they accept from those people who have never rented before (after all, even kiwis would need to rent for the first time at some point).

Ian

[catt]

When we applied for a rental in March 2009 we were asked for references and i was lucky enough to have met someone off here who said they would give us a reference (character and visited us at our holiday rental) along with our nephew in Auckland who we had met once. So long as you give names and they are prepared to ref you then that seems to work ok. Some questions that they asked where: 1. Do they have a clean house 2. Is it kept tidy. 3. Are they financially stable or do you think they will default on the rent. (as if the refs you give will give a bad answer to this).

I felt like they were just going through the motions really.........good luck in whatever happens though.

Anni :nice1

[YouMeAndThree]

When we arrived we were going to be taking up our very first rental too. I asked whether references would be needed as it was going to be a struggle seeing as we were previous homeowners. Rental agent told me that she didn't bother for new immigrants because if they were going to be a problem they would have been refused a visa. She also said from her experience she would sooner rent to new immigrants for the way they looked after their properties than rent to locals :exit

Some agents (like ours :nice1) seem to take a very relaxed attitude, while others, like the one The Woodies appear to have had, are right at the other end of the scale.

[James 1077]

We were in the same situation - being previous homeowners. We mentioned it to both the estate agent and the landlady and neither of them had any problems with us not having references for this reason.

As it is most new immigrants rent for a period when they arrive and very few would be able to provide references so they may make an exception for us anyway!

[1979vanessa]

thanks! The agent I spoke to was Ray White and I understand they are a nationwide company, maybe things might be more leniant with a more local agent?

I did have a friend live with me for a while, maybe she would be a good person to ask for a reference?

[Mister Bump]

When we rented about a year ago the rental lady didn't care - the moment she heard we were English, not only did she not need any refs, we pretty much made the top of her list of 'good clients'. Basically I think a lot of the rentiees in NZ are a bit unreliable to say the least and landlords suffer far more than in the UK from non payments and damage etc.

[YouMeAndThree]

thanks! The agent I spoke to was Ray White and I understand they are a nationwide company, maybe things might be more leniant with a more local agent?

I did have a friend live with me for a while, maybe she would be a good person to ask for a reference?


Our is through Ray White, so it's probably just your particular branch or even individual agent possibly???

If a reference is needed, then yes, I'd get a character reference from a friend or family member. Is it possible to get one from you 'home' bank or mortgage company too?

[1979vanessa]

Our is through Ray White, so it's probably just your particular branch or even individual agent possibly???

If a reference is needed, then yes, I'd get a character reference from a friend or family member. Is it possible to get one from you 'home' bank or mortgage company too?

yes, I was thinking of giving the bank a call; I may as well organise as much as possible in my last few weeks here, rather than trying to contact people once I'm in NZ! So much to do, so little time!!

[Joolzr]

We didn't have a problem with references- although the agent we used to rent our home in the in the UK offered to give us one, he was never approached. I think the agents judge you on sight and perhaps check your employment in NZ to see if you can pay the rent. Of course, being able to pay the rent, and actually paying it are often two different things!

[925dancer]

Ray White are a national company but they are franchises so your experience will vary from branch to branch. Let's just say, haivng taken over the management of a fair few of their properties, the particular branch I dealt with are a nightmare!

As for references, you didn't hear this from me but how are they going to know the name you put down is or isn't a previous landlord of yours ;)

I'm pretty sure a lot of people fake references so I would just go with someone that knows you and forewarn them.

[Familyofmonkeys]

thanks! The agent I spoke to was Ray White and I understand they are a nationwide company, maybe things might be more leniant with a more local agent?

I did have a friend live with me for a while, maybe she would be a good person to ask for a reference?

Our first rental was with Ray White......and they were just the same. In the end we just showed them a copy of our house sale documentation so they could see we had the money to pay the rent, and we got an employment reference from OH boss and they had to accept that.

[Shones]

Sorry, I've only just read this thread.
When we moved into our first rental, the lady from the holiday let/motel where we spent the first 10 days wrote a reference for us, and the landlord said she'd given us an excellent write up. Would that be a possibility for you?
Shona

[MaryMc]

You could also ask the agent who handled your house sale to write you a reference. Good luck :)

[carahafner]

I guess that it all may have changed, but when we rented our first property in NZ, we weren't asked for any references and we didn't provide any either and it wasn't a problem. So it is (or at least was) possible to rent without having references.

I would try a different estate agent if they won't budge on this, or ask them what they accept from those people who have never rented before (after all, even kiwis would need to rent for the first time at some point).

Ian

We have just secured a rental in Christchurch after being home owners in the US for the last 8 years (and selling our house prior to our move). We did not have any references but they did confirm my employment and asked us to provide them with a bank statement to show that we had sufficient funds to rent.

The agent who helped us said that with people from overseas, she usually just checks these things, pointing out that it would be a bit unreasonable to try and track down an old landlord in the UK or US or to do a "credit check" per se.

HTH