[starkhorn]

Folks,

Our initial plan for moving out to NZ was to stay in a motel for a week or two after our initial arrival whilst using that time to find a rented property. The reason for that was a simple one as we'd obviously want to see the place prior to renting it and we can't do that whilst still being in Europe. Also I didn't think many estate agents would be willing to rent property to people who aren't physically in the country yet! :)

Anyway one possible show-stopper in this idea was the fussiness of the estate agents. I remember trying this approach when moving to London and most estate agents were extremely fussy demanding lots of information and most importantly they want personal referees and guarantors. In short it was a nightmare as I didn't have any of that stuff. I only ever experienced that sort of thing in London and in France. I've rented places in Germany, Holland, Ireland and the rest of the UK without ever needing referees before.

Anyway my question are NZ real estate agents really fussy for demaning referees or guarantors? My biggest problem of course is that we won't know anyone in NZ who could act as a referee so we would never be able to give them a name.

I'd hate to land in NZ to find myself stuck in a motel for several months because the real estate agents are being fussy over references and stuff.

Any thoughts or experience on that? I was thinking of bringing a few letters of reference with us from our current renting agency. Would that be enough?

Cheers
Brendan & Isabelle

[Smiler]

Hi Brendan

I did answer on the other thread but we found it very very easy. I brought all those documents and more and we did not know anyone in NZ either.

Very simple, no refs needed, bond and 1st weeks rent in cash and keys handed over. :clap:clap

D

[urban78]

Hi Brendan,

We came to NZ with a reference letter from our only lanlord when we lived in the UK, thinking we'd need it to start renting here.

We weren't asked for any reference letter or name to contact by our NZ landlord (actually the property management company who deals with our buliding). We just paid the bond and a week in advance, that was pretty much it, just like Smiler.

However, my partner's sister, who was looking for a place to rent was asked for a name to contact for a reference. She gave her boss' name and the owner was pretty happy bout it. I'm guessing if you do go through a private landlord (opposed to an agency/property management company like we did), then you could be asked to provide a name to contact for a ref.

Jen

[Park City Partner]

My partner is in Auckland right now working on finding a place to live. He found a place through an agency and he gave references in the US. They are also asking about financial information but I think that is because he will be in school for 2 years and I'm pregnant with no job. But they seem eager to rent to us but being reasonably cautious.

[GeorgeM]

I found a rental house within 10 days of arriving. I knew no one, and didn't have a job.

The person at the rental agency sized me up (ooh err missus...), decided I was ok and phoned the owner to explain the situation. After that no references were necessary - just a bond of two week's rent, two week's rent up front and a standing order to pay the rent every fortnight.

I guess if I had gone in wearing Mongrel Mob patches or with a mangey dog on a bit of washing line or with 6 kids who proceeded to misbehave and pull the office to pieces whilst I screamed "Stop that you little b'stard" the outcome would have been somewhat different...

Dress up fairly respectably, go out of your way to make a good impression and you shouldn't have a problem.

[starkhorn]

Hi all,

Ok great, that makes me feel alot less concerned then. Great to see that they aren't too fussy at all.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject.

Cheers
Starkhorn