Renting a house
There are many types of houses available in the Hutt Valley region. When looking for a house, think about the school you want your children to attend, because some schools have ‘zones’ which are decided based on where you live. If you live outside the zone for a particular school, your children may not be able to attend that school.
Most new migrants decide to rent a house when they arrive. This gives you enough time to save for a home and decide where you want to live.
How do I find a property to rent?
Properties for rent are usually advertised in newspapers. Look in the classified advertisements section of the Dominion Post on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and in the Hutt News, a free local newspaper.
Rental home advertisements 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 its list of houses for rent.
You can also find a home to rent on a range of websites:
What does it cost to rent a house in the area?
Rents vary depending on where the house is, the number of bedrooms and the condition of the house. To check rental prices, go to the Department of Building and Housing website or call 0800 836 262.
Tenancy agreements – the rental paperwork
A tenancy agreement 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 and sign the agreement when you have decided you want to live in a place.
It is a good idea to find out your legal rights and responsibilities before signing a tenancy agreement. For free advice and information visit the Tenancy Services website or call 0800 836 262.
The Department of Building and Housing has published a booklet called “Renting and you - a guide to the law about renting” and it is available on the Department of Building and Housing's website.
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.
When problems happen, talk them through with your landlord. Before talking to your landlord, be clear about your concerns and think of a solution. If problems continue, seek advice from the Department of Building and Housing, which has a mediation service for landlords and tenants.
Buying a house
If you are thinking of buying a house, it’s important to do your research before you buy. This includes getting a council LIM (a Land Information Memorandum report) which provides information on things like erosion and flooding and the approved permits and consents.
You can also ask us for a copy of the current site valuation and the property rates.
For more information, see the Rates and Property section of our site or call 04 570 6666.
What do I need to do if I’m thinking about buying a house?
It’s a good idea to look at different suburbs and compare the prices for different types of housing. Once you have done your research and 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. The lawyer will arrange all the paperwork and can also be a useful advisor. To find a lawyer, ask your friends or someone you know, or look in the Yellow Pages.
Real estate agents help most people buy or sell houses.
They advertise houses for sale in:
- The Dominion Post newspaper (either in the Classifieds or in specific housing sections usually found in the weekend papers or Wednesday edition)
- The Hutt News – a free local newspaper circulated in Hutt City
- Free property magazines (delivered to mailboxes or found outside real estate offices)
- Their own websites
- On Trade Me website
To find list of real estate agencies, refer to the Yellow Pages and type in ‘real estate agencies’.
Buying a house – the finances
You can only buy a house 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 company or bank. The finance company 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 companies, insurance companies and savings and loan associations. Make sure you choose the mortgage that is most suitable for you.
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.
