[Dougal]

What are the initial costs when renting a house? Do you have to pay anything other than an advance of rent, and how much etc.

Any info gratefully received.

D

[wilson182]

You will need to pay your bond, which will be either three or fours weeks rent, plus one weeks rent in advance. Your other costs will be to set up your telephone account and electricity. To initially set up our account with Meridian for our electricity, we had to pay a bond of $150 as we had no credit history.

[starkhorn]

The below link gives a nice wee summary which I found helpful.

Cheers
Starkhorn

http://www.nz-immigration.co.nz/cost-of-living/rental-accommodation.html

[Smiler]

Hi
We paid our 3 week bond and 1st weeks rent.

The electric and telephone co waived the bond because we had PR and asked for a copy of the visa which I faxed them. I also signed up to pay them by direct debit and the bond was waived for that too.

Deborah

[ruthyroo]

If you use an agency they will take 1 weeks rent as a 'finders fee'... for shuffling some paper and opening a couple of doors... bah humbug!

[Qui~Gon]

Our set up cost was

Five weeks’ rent! which was made up like this:
1. The first week’s rent.
2. One week’s rent plus GST (12.5%) as a letting fee.
3. Three week’s bond.

We went with Genesis (http://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/) for our electric if you pay by debit then they will waive the $150 bond. we pay monthly around $70, no land line so don't know about that I use woosh for the net as it means we can move around Auckland and still have net. (woosh is Wireless system)

Qui

[ladyluck]

We went with Genesis (http://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/) for our electric if you pay by debit then they will waive the $150 bond. we pay monthly around $70

I used to work for Genesis for 6 months in their "Residential Team" and the consumer website worked out that Genesis was the cheaper of all the power companies.

They have different plans and pricing dependant on your meters that are installed and the area that you live in. The offer a 10% prompt payment discount if you pay before or on the due date of your account. These are generally billed on a 30 day schedule and you are required to pay within 14 days of the bill being issued.

Electricity is expensive.

Regarding the $150 bond...

Direct debit is the best way to waive the bond if you do not have any credit history with them prior. There are two forms...

Direct Debit Variable: either paying the amount of your monthly bill (less a 10% prompt payment discount for paying by the due date) by bank account or credit card...

or

Direct Debit Fixed: a fixed payment on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis (they work out an average $$ for your usage, but its easier if you have at least 12 months of electricity history so they can work out the average) by bank account or credit card also.

Paying for your electricity bills by automatic payment (bank, phone or internet), cash at the NZ post shop or cheque does not waive the bond.

If after 12 months of good credit history, you move house... they shouldn't charge a bond - even if you don't pay by direct debit. They just need evidence that you can pay your electricity account by the due date.

Hope that makes sense / helps.


Tara XX