Hutt City Council

Housing

Most new migrants decide to rent a house when they arrive. This gives them enough time to save more money and decide where they want to live. There are many types of houses available in the Hutt Valley region. You should also think about the school you want your children to attend because some schools have home zones.

Renting a private house or flat

Properties for rent are usually advertised in newspapers, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Look in the classified advertisements section of The Dominion Post (daily newspaper) on Wednesdays and Saturdays under 'To Let'. Rental home advertisments are often placed in local supermarkets, community centre notice boards and in school newsletters. You can also visit or call a real estate agent to look at their list of houses for rent. Check out the websites below for options:

www.flatfinder.co.nz/
www.trademe.co.nz then select ’property’
www.homelet.co.nz
www.realestate.co.nz

Rents vary depending on where the house is, the number of bedrooms and the condition of the house. To check rent prices go to the Department of Building and Housing website: www.dbh.govt.nz/market-rent or call 0800 832 262.

Tenancy agreement

This is a written, legal contract between you and the landlord, and the law says you must have one. You have to talk about and agree on what is written in the contract. You should sign the agreement when you have decided you want to live in a place.
You should not sign any contract unless you fully understand everything that is written in it, because it is a legal document when you sign it.

You may have to pay RENT IN ADVANCE (usually two weeks rent) and a BOND (agreed between you and the landlord, but usually between two and four weeks rent). The bond is held by Tenancy Services to cover any unpaid rent, damage to the property or other claims when you move out. You should keep a record of all payments made to the landlord. If you pay your rent in cash, your landlord MUST give you a receipt. If you have any questions about what you have to do or what the landlord has to do when you are renting, contact: Tenancy Services (0800 836 262) for free advice and information about renting or visit www.tenancy.govt.nz or ask at your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Tenancy Service Office for 'A Guide for Tenants'.

Housing New Zealand Corporation

Housing New Zealand provides a range of housing services for people on low to moderate incomes, or those with special needs.

For migrants to be eligible to apply for a state house they must be permanent residents for two years or receive an emergency benefit, due to hardship. Eligible applicants are placed on a waiting list and priority is given to those with the greatest housing need, rather than to those who have waited the longest. Quota refugees are automatically eligible to apply for a Housing New Zealand house.

Once the application for housing is lodged with Housing New Zealand, you are assessed to determine your housing need. The assessment considers things like your current living arrangements and social, medical and personal needs. This ensures that those with the greatest need receive help first.

Tenants and applicants who are not confident speaking English can access Language Line - a free telephone interpreting service. Ask a Housing New Zealand staff member for Language Line help.

Housing New Zealand tenants pay either an income-related rent or a market rent. Tenants whose income is below a set threshold pay an income-related rent of no more than 25 percent of their income. Tenants who earn more than this threshold pay up to the maximum market rent for the property. Exactly how much depends on income.

Housing New Zealand contact details: Freephone Housing New Zealand any time on 0800 801 601 or visit www.hnzc.co.nz 

Buying a house

If you are thinking of buying a house, it is important to do your research thoroughly before you buy. This includes getting a council LIM - a Land Information Memorandum report. This report includes information on erosion, flooding areas, storm water and sewage drainage, approved building/plumbing/drainage permits and consents.  You can ask for a copy of the current site valuation and the property rates at the local council.

For more information visit Hutt City Council:  www.huttcity.govt.nz or call 570 6666

It is a good idea to look at different suburbs and compare the prices, for different types of housing. Once you have done this research and have found a house you like, you should get a professional property inspection. The inspection will check the property’s durability, workmanship and structural soundness. These agencies will provide advice on building inspection:

Use a lawyer to help you buy the house, he will make an offer on the price. The lawyer will arrange for all the paperwork and can also be a useful advisor. To find a lawyer, ask your friends or someone you know, or look in Yellow pages icon..

Real Estate Agents help most people buy or sell a house. Real Estate agents advertise houses for sale in:

To find list of real estate agencies, refer to the Yellow Pages Telephone Directory at www.yellowpages.co.nz type in ‘real estate agencies’. 

Buying a house - Bank details

You can buy a house only if you can pay the full price of the property or arrange a long-term loan or mortgage from a lender, such as a finance house or bank. The finance house or bank will look at your income, what you own, your debts, and your credit rating. Most banks will ask you to pay a deposit of 10% of the cost of the house before allowing you to have a mortgage.

Mortgages are available from banks, credit unions, finance houses, insurance companies and savings and loan associations. Make sure you choose the mortgage that is most suitable for you.

Processing Fees-All lenders charge a fee for processing your loan, which is usually one per cent of the amount borrowed, but can be less if the mortgage is very high. 

For guidance on buying a property check out: http://www.real-estate-nz.com/

Furniture and homeware

Houses and most flats are advertised as unfurnished. Second-hand furniture and household goods can be purchased at second-hand shops. See Yellow pages icon. Secondhand Dealers. There are also a number of outlets in the Wellington region selling quality new goods. Second-hand goods are advertised in: www.buy-sell-exchange.co.nz or TradeMe - an online auction site for people wanting to buy and sell goods www.trademe.co.nz 

Garage Sales have cheap second-hand goods. They are usually held on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays, and are advertised in The Dominion Post and the Hutt News.  Many people also put signs on fences indicating the day and location of a garage sale. Trade and Exchange magazines are available at most book stores and some service stations.

Check with www.consumer.org.nz for information on your rights when buying used goods.