Choose where to live

Why it matters

• Immigration New Zealand says where you live might depend on your job or where you want to study, and other things can affect the decision too.
• Immigration New Zealand says housing costs vary by region, and houses in larger cities like Auckland and Wellington are much more expensive than in smaller places.

Steps

1. Open Immigration New Zealand's page on choosing where to live and note what matters for your household.
2. Look up the weekly rent for the areas and types of home you're considering in Tenancy Services' market rent tool.
3. When you look at homes, check how each one is insulated and heated, and how much sun it gets.

Common mistakes

• Relying on the market rent figure alone. Tenancy Services says it's based on bonds from the previous 6 months and shouldn't be used alone to work out the rent for any property.
• Not working out the total move-in cost, including bond and any rent in advance, before you rent.

Watch out for

• Immigration New Zealand says houses don't normally have central heating.
• Public transport can be limited in smaller centres, and in rural areas you may have to rely on a car.
• Immigration New Zealand says that when you first arrive you may share a house or flat, which matters if you're bringing a partner or family.
• Tenancy Services says it's unlawful for a landlord to ask for more than 2 weeks’ rent in advance.

Cost

• Immigration New Zealand says rent is typically charged each week, and you may be charged up to 4 weeks of rent as bond.

Sources