Know your flatting rights
Jump ahead:
Renting a flat or a room in a flat while you're studying in New Zealand can be a great experience if you know your rights and responsibilities. When renting a property, you need to have a good understanding of tenants’ rights (or renters' rights). Find out what to do if there is a problem when renting in New Zealand.
Tenants and landlords
In New Zealand, a property owner who rents their house or apartment out to other people is called a 'landlord'. The people who rent the property are called 'tenants'. The landlord and the tenants all sign a written legal document called a Tenancy Agreement that sets out how long the rental is for, how much rent the tenants will pay and any other conditions.
If you have questions, Tenancy Services has a lot of information about things like how often a landlord can increase the rent and how to leave a tenancy early.
Flatmates
Kiwis
call people who share a rented home together 'flatmates' or ‘flatties’ for short. Depending on the size of the house you're living in, you can have one or two flatmates, or sometimes more than five!Living with flatmates is a great way to make friends and to feel less homesick (the feeling of missing home). Some flats have nights where they all have dinner together or even movie nights!
In some cases, you won't need to sign the Tenancy Agreement to be able to live in a property. You won't legally be a tenant you'll just be a flatmate. Check with the other tenants if they need you to become a tenant or not.
As a flatmate, you're responsible to the tenant (the person you live with who has signed the Tenancy
Agreement), not the landlord. This means that the tenant can ask you to move out if they’re not happy living with you, or you’re not paying your share of the rent.Paying bills
When you flat with people you also share bills with them like electricity, gas, internet, and in some places water. Making sure that rent and bills have been paid can be hard, especially when you're living with lots of people.
The tenant is usually the person who sets up the accounts but everyone in the flat is responsible for paying rent and bills on time. Some flats manage their bills by keeping them in a place where everyone can see them (like on the fridge or kitchen table), others use online tools like Splitwise so everyone knows who has paid what.
Bills are usually paid monthly and are split evenly between flatmates, depending on the flat arrangement.
What to do if there’s a problem
Sometimes things can go wrong when you’re renting. It’s really important to know what your options are and to know how to ask for help. If there’s a problem with the landlord, or the place you’re living in:
If there’s a problem with one of your flatmates:
Finding a flat
If you want to learn about being independent, renting a place ('flatting') on your own or with others ('flatmates') is a sure way to learn! Get tips on how to find a flat and what to look for when finding a flat to rent.
Accommodation types
Choosing a place to live is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when you start studying in New Zealand. Here’s what you need to know about the different housing options available for international students.
Accommodation
What are your housing options in New Zealand? Find out what kind of housing is available and your rights as a tenant when living in New Zealand.