Renting and Owning Property
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1. Housing in New Zealand
By far the majority of dwellings in New Zealand are detached houses, generally on at least an eighth of an acre of land. Older homes are often on larger blocks of land (“sections”). There is a current trend in urban areas towards inner city apartment living, with many older buildings being converted into apartments.
The typical New Zealand house is a single-storey, detached bungalow, built of wood, although other materials are now being used. It has three or more bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge, a dining area which may be attached to the lounge or kitchen, a bathroom, separate toilet, and a laundry. There is often a garage, which may be integrated as part of the house or detached.
Modern houses are often now being built as multi-level with a double garage underneath, and often with an ensuite bathroom attached to the master bedroom.
The various words used to describe New Zealand housing are explained in the glossary at the end of this document.
Houses must have a stove when they are sold. Other integrated appliances such as dishwashers may be left by negotiation with the vendor. New Zealanders leave light bulbs, light fixtures, carpet, and drapes(curtains) in houses when they are sold, unless otherwise negotiated.
Central heating, double-glazing and air-conditioning are not common in most New Zealand homes, although many people are now installing reverse-cycle air conditioners (“heat pumps”). Electricity is the most commonly used form of heating, but gas is also available in many areas. Open fires and wood burners are also popular. Insulation is generally provided in modern homes by fibreglass pads (“Bats”) that are installed inside the walls and ceilings. Newcomers should note that the interiors of many New Zealand houses may be colder than they are used to because of the lack of central heating and double-glazing.
Many New Zealand suburban areas are large and do not have facilities close to all housing areas, so transport options should be a consideration when choosing a place to live.
The majority of New Zealanders aspire to own their own home. The 2006 census (Statistics New Zealand) indicates that 66.8% of respondents own their own home (either with or without a mortgage).
New migrants often choose to rent property in the first instance, until they are better acquainted with the area. Many people who are living in New Zealand on a temporary basis choose to rent rather than buy. However, the tendency of New Zealanders to own their own homes means that there is not an established culture of long-term renting, and much rental property is at the lower end of the market and not always well-maintained. At the upper end of the market, there is a shortage of rental properties, and those that are available are typically being rented out by owners who are absent temporarily rather than by property investors.
Persons who are “ordinarily resident” in New Zealand are generally able to purchase property in New Zealand. There are more restrictions for purchases of land by foreign nationals who do not live in New Zealand. For further information contact the Real Estate Institute (www.reinz.org.nz) or the Overseas Investment Office (www.oio.linz.govt.nz).
Lending institutions may be reluctant to offer mortgages to immigrants with work permits rather than permanent residency. This may depend on the level of financial security and/or equity offered. Shop around, or try a mortgage broker who can advise an appropriate lender.
When deciding whether to rent or buy, consider the following issues:
- Will you be able to resell the property quickly at a good price if you leave the country or have to move towns?
- Compare the relative fixed costs of buying/selling (lawyers, estate agent fees and commission(selling)) with renting (estate agent fee, if applicable, and refundable bond)
- Compare the ongoing cost of buying (council rates, maintenance, dwelling insurance) with renting (rent)
- Remember there is no tax incentive for purchasing your own home in New Zealand
- Buying may widen the number of houses available – this may be desirable if you wish to avoid restrictions on pets, smoking, etc., or if you cannot find a suitable house to rent.
- Rental rates at the mid to upper end of the market are not currently providing a great return for landlords. As a tenant, you may find you get a better value property renting, than paying the equivalent money in mortgage payments.
- If you intend staying in New Zealand long-term you may wish to build equity in your own home, rather than pay rent to a landlord for no long-term gain.
A safety note…
Wooden houses will burn quickly in a fire, and you are strongly advised to ensure that adequate smoke alarms are fitted and kept operational in your home. If you are in rented accommodation ask your landlord to fit these or allow you to install them yourself. Check the batteries on smoke alarms regularly and change the batteries annually.
You should ensure all television sets, stove elements, heaters, etc are turned off at the wall point when you go to bed or leave the house, to reduce the risk of fire.
2. Renting Property in New Zealand
Rental properties in New Zealand are usually unfurnished, although some furnished places are available.
Rental properties are advertised through the local newspaper, or through a letting agent, real estate agent or property manager. Refer to the glossary at the end of this document for explanations of some of the terms used.
Letting centres, real estate agents and property managers may charge the tenant a letting fee when they let a property, so check beforehand as to exactly what fees you will be charged. A typical letting fee is a week’s rent plus GST (12.5%).
You will normally be required to pay rent, (normally two weeks), in advance. Landlords normally require that this is paid by a regular direct debit from your bank account.
In addition, you will normally have to pay bond money (up to four weeks rent), which is held by the Tenancy Services Bond Centre. This money is refundable when you leave the property provided it is in good condition.
You will need to sign a tenancy agreement with your landlord. There may be special conditions in your tenancy agreement, such as maintaining the garden, restrictions on pets, restrictions on smoking, etc. Note that landlords in New Zealand are often not keen on having pets or smokers in their properties.
You may be required to provide one or more references.
The landlord will normally pay the rates and dwelling insurance on the property. The tenant pays for their own contents insurance, electricity, gas, telephone, any metered water charges, etc.
Your landlord will take out dwelling insurance to cover replacement of the property in the event of fire, accidental damage, natural disasters, etc. If the property is furnished the landlord will be responsible for insuring any items he or she owns.
You are strongly advised to take out “Contents” insurance to cover your own household and personal items, even if you are in fully furnished accommodation. While this insurance will cover your belongings against theft, fire, etc (depending on the policy), it should also cover you for personal liability against the unlikely event that you will be held responsible for damage to the landlord or someone else’s property. (For example, in a recent case a tenant without contents insurance was liable for $84,000 when her rented flat caught fire after she left a pan of oil on the stove.)
There can be significant differences in premiums between insurers, so it pays to shop around.
There are two main kinds of tenancies, periodic and fixed term.
A Periodic Tenancy is any tenancy that is not for a fixed term, and is the most common form of tenancy. A periodic tenancy continues until the landlord or the tenant brings it to an end by giving notice (see summary of Residential Tenancies Act below). The main benefit of a periodic tenancy is that it gives both parties the flexibility of giving notice to terminate the tenancy if their circumstances change. The downside for a tenant is that the landlord can give the tenant notice (either 90 days or 42 days depending on the circumstances, as outlined below), leaving the tenant looking for alternative accommodation. The most common circumstances under which your landlord may decide to give you notice would be where the property is sold and either the old or new owner wants “vacant possession”, or where there is an absentee owner who decides to return to live in the property.
A Fixed Term Tenancy is a tenancy that finishes on a fixed date set down in the written agreement with no provision for either the landlord or the tenant to give notice to quit within that period. The benefit of a fixed tenancy is that it gives both parties certainty that the arrangement will continue at least till a certain date. The downside for a tenant is that should your circumstances change, (such as you decide to leave the area, decide to buy a property, or just find that the property doesn’t suit you), you will be expected to find another tenant acceptable to the landlord to take over the tenancy or you will be liable to keep on paying the rent until the fixed expiry date.
You will need to consider the pros and cons of periodic versus fixed term tenancy depending on your individual circumstances and what your landlord is prepared to accept.
The Residential Tenancies Act (1986) provides protection for both tenants and landlords. In brief, the key provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act are:
- There must be a written tenancy agreement.
- A landlord may not discriminate against a person because of their colour, race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, age, religious or ethical belief, because they have children, because they are unemployed, or any other prohibited reasons as set out in the Human Rights Act 1993. A tenant who has grounds to believe that they have been discriminated against may choose to take the matter to the Tenancy Tribunal or to the Human Rights Commission.
- Landlords cannot require rent to be paid more than two weeks in advance.
- 60 days written notice is required for rent increases. Rent may not be increased within 180 days of the start of the tenancy or the last rent increase.
- Receipts must be provided for all cash payments (rent and bond).
- The bond covers any damage or loss to the landlord if the tenant’s obligations are not met, but does not cover fair “wear and tear”. A bond is not compulsory, but if required can be for up to four weeks’ rent. Bonds must be lodged with the Department of Building & Housing Bond Centre within 23 working days of being paid. A Bond Lodgement form must be signed by both landlord and tenant. Bonds are refunded at the end of the tenancy. If there is no claim by the landlord, the bond money goes in full to the tenant. If the landlord has a claim for unpaid rent, damage to the property, items missing, cleaning charges or gardening costs, etc, these amounts are paid to the landlord out of the bond money, with the tenant receiving the balance. Both the tenant and the landlord must sign the Bond Refund form at the end of the tenancy. Disputed bond claims are mediated by the Tenancy Tribunal.
- The landlord must:
- Maintain the premises in a reasonable condition
- Allow the tenant “quiet enjoyment” of the premises.
- Comply with all building, health and safety standards that apply.
- Pay the rates and dwelling insurance.
- Inform the tenant if the property is for sale.
- Give 24 hours notice to enter the property for repairs or maintenance, except in an emergency.
- Give 48 hours notice for an inspection of the property
- Obtain the tenant’s prior consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld) to show the premises to prospective tenants, purchasers or a valuer.
- The tenant must:
- Pay the rent on time.
- Keep the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and notify the landlord as soon as any repairs are needed.
- Use the premises principally for residential purposes.
- Pay electricity, gas, and telephone charges, and water charges if applicable.
- Not damage the premises.
- Not disturb the neighbours.
- Not alter the premises without the landlord’s consent.
- Not use the property for any unlawful purposes.
- Not exceed the maximum number of occupants (if stated).
- Leave the property clean, tidy and empty of possessions at end of tenancy.
- Leave all chattels and keys at the end of the tenancy.
- Not sublet or assign the tenancy without the landlord’s prior permission.
- If the tenancy is not a fixed term tenancy, the tenant must give the landlord 21 days notice in writing to terminate the tenancy, and the landlord must give 90 days notice in writing to terminate the tenancy. The landlord may give 42 days notice in writing, if (a) the landlord has an agreement to sell the premises with vacant possession, or (b) the premises are required for occupation by the landlord or a member of the landlord’s family, or (c) the premises are required for an employee of the landlord and this has been agreed at the start of the tenancy.
Note that GST is not charged on residential rents, but is charged on letting fees by agencies.
For further information on tenancy issues contact Department of Housing & Building Tenancy Services on 0800 836 262 or check their website, www.dbh.govt.nz.
For specific enquiries relating to bonds, contact the Tenancy Services Bond Centre on 0800 737 666.
3. Purchasing Property in New Zealand
3.1 Real Estate Agent
Most houses in New Zealand are sold through real estate agents, although some private sales occur.
Real Estate agents in New Zealand are paid by the vendor upon the sale of the house, and their commission is generally a percentage of the price paid (although some agents now charge a fixed fee). Therefore, it is important to remember that they are acting in the best interests of the vendor, rather than the buyer. Indicative commissions are 3.5%-4% for the first $250,000, and 1.5%-2% on amounts above that level.
Some real estate agents now have Internet web sites although these are not always up-to-date. These may be useful before arrival for getting a general feel as to what is available, and for price comparisons. There is a list of agent web sites in Section 7, References, below. You can also find contact details for real estate agents in the Telecom Yellow Pages, www.yellowpages.co.nz, under Real Estate Agents – Licensed.
Real estate agents will show you round specific properties likely to interest you. They are unlikely to give you a general tour of the area.
Properties may also be listed as “private sale”. In this case, you will be dealing with the vendor directly, rather than through an agent. One company, Private Sale NZ (www.privatesale.co.nz), acts as an agent for such sales, charging lower fees to vendors than those charged by real estate agents.
A popular way of viewing potential properties is to attend an “Open Home”. This is a set time period for potential buyers (and sightseers!) to view the property in question. Open Homes are generally held on a weekend and are advertised in the newspaper. You will normally be requested to register with the real estate agent on arrival at the Open Home.
3.2 Types of Sale
Properties in New Zealand are generally sold either by a negotiated deal between buyer and seller, or by tender, or by auction.
Negotiated deals are actioned through the buyer making a formal written offer to purchase, subject to certain terms and conditions, such as arranging suitable finance within a certain time period, getting an independent valuation (if this has not already been done) , having the property inspected by a builder, searching the title, etc. Real estate agents have standard agreement forms for such offers but, as these do not always cover all conditions likely to be required by the buyer, you are strongly advised to get advice from your solicitor (lawyer) before signing anything.
The buyer may accept the offer, decline the offer, or commence negotiations to agree a price with the buyer. The written offer will be amended and initialled to reflect the changes in price. The buyer and seller agree a date for settlement.
Once terms and conditions are agreed, the buyer pays a deposit to the vendor, via the real estate agent. This is normally 5 to 10% of the purchase price, and this money is held in the agent’s trust account for a minimum of 10 working days. The agent will take their commission out of this deposit once the deal becomes “unconditional”, ie once all conditions on the contract have been met.
The balance of the purchase price is paid via the buyer’s and vendor’s solicitors on the settlement date, and the keys are handed over to the buyer.
Your solicitor will then process the formal transfer of title.
Tenders differ from negotiated deals in that the vendor manages a tender process whereby written bids are received from prospective buyers, which the vendor then considers alongside each other. “Closed” tenders have a deadline by which date tenders must be submitted. In a tender situation, there may be no negotiation with a prospective buyer, so it is important to bid at a realistic and competitive price. The bids are not made public to the various buyers.
Auctions are a public bidding process, whereby the buyers can see what other bids are made. There is usually a “reserve” price, which is the minimum the vendor will accept, although this is not disclosed to buyers prior to the auction. If the property does not sell at auction, the vendor may seek to negotiate a price with one or more bidders.
At auction, sales are unconditional, i.e. you cannot purchase subject to finance, valuation etc. All the necessary checks on title and on the property must have been completed before the day of the auction. A deposit will be required at the time the bid is accepted. This is normally 10%.
The completion of the settlement process is the same in all types of sale.
3.3 The Process
Once you have found a property you wish to purchase, you should make several checks before making an offer, or at least make any offer conditional on the checks being carried out to your satisfaction. (But note that in competitive situations some buyers will want to make unconditional offers, and it is therefore advisable to complete any checks prior to making an offer.) These checks could include:
- An inspection by an engineer and/or builder to check on land stability, drainage, and the general construction of the property. There has been recent publicity surrounding the design and construction of modern “Mediterranean” monolithic style homes, which has led to problems with leaks and eventual rotting of timber. Some home owners are facing considerable repair bills as a result. It is recommended that you engage a qualified Building Surveyor to check out a property before you buy, and make a satisfactory report a condition of purchase. Call the NZ Institute of Building Surveyors on 0800 11 34 00 or the Building Research Association of NZ (BRANZ) (04 237 1170) for a list of registered surveyors in your area.
- An independent valuation. Note that the government valuation, which is used for assessing rates, is often out-of-date, and can be a poor guide to a property’s market value.
- Finding out what chattels will be included in the sale.
- Checking exactly where the survey pegs lie, as these may not equate to fencelines.
- Checking the Certificate of Title and the Land Information Memorandum for the property (normally your solicitor will be engaged to do this).
- A check with the local council and the district plan for any unusual zoning regulations, or restrictions that might constrain your use of the property, e.g. restrictions on how many dogs you can have, protection orders on trees or historic buildings, height restrictions for renovations, etc.
- Ensuring that building consents have been secured for all work done to-date on the property.
- Finding out what annual rates apply and ensuring that there are no rates outstanding. Finding out what “body corporate” fees (if any) might apply.
- Expert advice from builders, architects, etc on any renovations you plan to do.
In New Zealand, the legal process of transferring ownership of property is called conveyancing. This is carried out by a lawyer (also known as a solicitor).
You are strongly advised to engage a solicitor before making any offer. Note that the conditions indicated above are not always included in the standard Sale/Purchase agreements used by real estate agents and you will need to add these conditions. If you do not already have a solicitor, you should select one who specialises in conveyancing, and is independently recommended, rather than one recommended by your real estate agent.
Find out in advance how much you will pay your solicitor in conveyancing fees, as some firms charge more than others.
Your solicitor can do the following:
- Check out the offer and sale contract, before you sign it.
- Advise on any conditions you should include in the contract.
- Obtain a guaranteed search document from the Land Titles Office, and confirm to you that this has been done.
- Obtain a copy of the certificate of title. Check the title, any Land Information Memorandum (LIM), and the district plan for any covenants and encumbrances.
- Prepare and submit the transfer of ownership papers.
- Arrange the completion of settlement with the vendor’s lawyer, including the payment of the balance of the purchase price at the appropriate time.
3.4 Arranging Finance
Housing finance in New Zealand is called a “mortgage”. There are multiple mortgage lenders, (banks, building societies, insurance companies and direct telephone mortgage lenders), with varying products, interest rates, fees and conditions. It pays to shop around for the best deal for your situation.
There are also mortgage brokers, who usually source mortgages from a variety of lenders, and who do not usually charge the borrower for their services. Check the Telecom Yellow Pages for details. Note that mortgage brokers will have arranged deals with particular lenders, and may not necessarily offer the full range of options available.
Note that as a mortgage is normally seen as a long-term commitment, some lenders are reluctant to offer mortgages to people on short-term entry permits such as work permits. They may require a higher level of initial equity in the property, or they may just refuse to lend to individuals in this situation. If you are experiencing difficulties you may need to contact a mortgage broker.
There are four main types of mortgage available:
Table Mortgage
Repayments remain the same over the life of the mortgage. Principal and interest is repaid. Over time the repayments become more principal than interest. Table mortgages are the most common form.
Reducing Mortgage
An equal amount of principal is paid in each repayment, reducing the interest payable over time, i.e. the total amount of each repayment will reduce as time goes on.
Revolving Credit Mortgage
With a revolving credit facility, additional funds can be borrowed against the value of the house and repaid as part of the existing loan arrangements. The amount owing will therefore fluctuate over time.
Flat or Interest-only Mortgage
Only interest is paid during the term of the loan, with the principal repaid at the end. This is uncommon in New Zealand, apart from as short-term bridging finance.
Some lenders will loan up to 95% of the house’s value, whereas others will only lend to 75%. This may be even lower for those in New Zealand on short term immigration permits, and on certain types of property, such as apartments.
Mortgage interest rates are volatile, and you have the choice of a floating or fixed rate mortgage. Floating rate mortgages have more flexible conditions, but the interest rate may change at any time. Fixed rate mortgages have an interest rate held for a set period, usually one to five years. Many borrowers opt for a combination of fixed and floating rates.
It is not necessary to have an existing banking record with any particular lender, although this may speed up the process of arranging finance, but it will be necessary to undergo the usual credit checking process.
Lenders may require an independent valuation and/or a pre-purchase building inspection before they will agree to a mortgage.
Some lenders will offer conditional approval over the phone, and some have “mobile mortgage managers” who will come to you.
It is often possible to get a certain level of finance pre-approved before finding a property to purchase. This is essential when purchasing at auction, as sales there are unconditional. It is also very useful when negotiating with the vendor, as guaranteed finance will put your offer on a par with a cash offer. If finance has not been pre-approved, you will need to include a condition in the contract for the deal to be dependent on securing finance acceptable to yourself within a certain time period.
There are no tax benefits in New Zealand attached to having a mortgage on the dwelling you live in, so it is generally in the borrower’s interests to shorten the term and pay the mortgage off as quickly as possible.
When selecting a lending institution, bear in mind the following:
- What fees will you be charged? How are these charged?
- Can they pre-approve your mortgage before you make an offer on a house?
- How long will it take the lender to approve your mortgage?
- Will you be able to alter repayment amounts should your circumstances change?
- Can you make lump sum payments to pay off your mortgage quicker? Are any fees charged for this?
- What % of the house’s value will they lend up to?
- What interest rates do they charge, and on what basis could these be changed?
- How reputable is the institution?
- Will you be required to have mortgage repayment insurance?
- Does the lender require an independent valuation or and/or building inspection?
3.5 General
Elemensa Limited can provide referrals to the appropriate professional services such as real estate agents, solicitors, lending institutions, valuers, surveyors etc.
Other useful information is contained in “How to Get the House You Want”, published by the Consumers’ Institute of New Zealand.
4. Home Ownership Responsibilities in New Zealand
This section applies to some responsibilities of those owning property in New Zealand. Landlords will generally be responsible for addressing most issues for rental accommodation, but tenants should take note that they also have some responsibilities, for example in the area of swimming pool safety and insurance liability.
4.1 Rates
Rates must be paid to the local city or district council, and normally cover general council services such as public works, water, rubbish collection, sewerage, as well as regional services such as public transport.
Rates vary from council to council, and are normally based on the latest Government Valuation for the property.
4.2 Dwelling Insurance
It is essential to take out dwelling insurance to cover replacement of your home in the event of fire, accidental damage, natural disasters, etc. If you have a mortgage over the property, your lending institution will almost certainly require you to have adequate insurance.
The main types of dwelling insurance cover are:
No-limit Replacement Cover
Your home would be rebuilt to its current standard and floor area, using current materials, and with no upper limit on cost.
Sum-insured Replacement Cover
Your home would be rebuilt to the dollar limit specified in the policy.
Indemnity
You would be reimbursed replacement value, less depreciation for wear and tear. This is not a popular form of insurance as the value would probably not be enough to rebuild your house.
Discounts on dwelling insurance may be given under various conditions, such as electing a higher excess, taking other insurance with the insurer (e.g. contents or car insurance), being over the age of 50, installing a security system, having a good claims record, etc.
You are strongly advised to take out “Contents” insurance to cover your household and personal items, whether you own or rent your property. While this insurance will cover your belongings against theft, fire, etc (depending on the policy), it should also cover you against the unlikely event that you will be held responsible for damage to someone else’s property (personal liability).
There can be significant differences in premiums between insurers, so it pays to shop around.
4.3 Apartments and Multi-dwelling Complexes
If you have purchased an apartment or other dwelling that is part of a multi-dwelling complex, there will usually be a “body-corporate” of some form that runs the complex. There may be a paid property manager in a large complex, or a company in which all occupiers own shares and elect directors to run the affairs of the complex (“Company-share”). In smaller complexes the owners may just meet on an ad hoc basis to decide on any activities and expenditure required on common areas.
The body-corporate will normally have a set of rules and covenants governing the activities of the owners. For example, this may restrict pets, prohibit the sub-letting of your property, limit the renovations you can carry out, define a code of conduct, etc.
You will typically be required to pay a regular fee to the body-corporate to cover such items as rates, dwelling insurance, exterior and common area maintenance, gardening, security, power to common areas such as passages, stairways, driveways and lifts, rubbish collection, etc. You should check what is included in your body corporate fee before purchasing as this varies from property to property.
4.4 Maintaining Your Home
New Zealand homeowners are great “do-it-yourselfers”, and many spend considerable amounts of their time maintaining their properties. The alternative for those who can afford it is to employ tradespeople to undertake the activities required.
Intending homeowners should be aware that certain types of property will attract significant ongoing maintenance. Older homes may require rewiring or repiling, and wooden houses and iron roofs need regular painting.
There are strict regulations in New Zealand covering the work you can do without being a registered tradesperson in the fields of electrical work, plumbing and gas-fitting. You are pretty much limited to changing plugs, fuses and tap-washers!
4.5 Renovating Your Home
Home renovations must comply with local building regulations and codes of practice. A Building Permit will be required from your local city council for any significant project, and may be required for smaller ones, so check before you begin (eg building permits are required for wood burners). Failure to comply may result in your being ordered to remove any building or structure built without the appropriate consents.
4.6 Swimming Pools
Swimming pools in New Zealand must be fenced to a certain standard by law. This involves a child-proof fence and a self-closing gate, which must be in working order, and must not be left open.
The consequences of not complying with this law can be very serious, with the owners of one pool found guilty of criminal negligence and heavily fined after a child drowned.
If the condition of the fence or gate is not to standard, you must drain the pool while waiting for repairs to be carried out. Note that this applies even if you are renting the property.
4.7 Home Heating & Ventilation
Central heating, double-glazing and air-conditioning are not common in most New Zealand homes, although many people are now installing reverse cycle air conditioners (“heat pumps”). Electricity is the most commonly used form of heating, but reticulated gas is also available in many areas of the North Island. Open fires and wood burners are also popular.
Insulation is generally provided in modern homes by fibreglass pads (“Bats”) that are installed inside the walls and ceilings. Newcomers should note that the interiors of many New Zealand houses may be colder than they are used to because of the lack of central heating and double-glazing.
To keep your home warm, you may need to buy standalone electric heaters, flued gas heaters and dehumidifiers. Some people use portable LPG heaters, but we do not recommend these as they generate fumes and moisture, must be operated with adequate ventilation, and can represent a fire hazard. Alternatives to reduce condensation and improve the ambient air temperature are standalone dehumidifers and installed home ventilation systems.
5. Connecting Utilities
The utility industry in New Zealand has been deregulated, and there are now multiple suppliers for most services.
Most connections can be handled over the phone, but you may experience lengthy delays calling some suppliers. Try calling outside of busy periods, or try signing up via the internet. Have your passport ready so you can provide that information if required.
5.1 Telephone
We recommend that you set up your telephone first so you can give your new telephone number to the other suppliers.
Note that most New Zealanders have a landline connected because cellphone/mobile calls are expensive by world standards, and local landline calls are generally free.
Telecom is the primary provider of residential phone connections across New Zealand. TelstraClear is an alternative provider, reselling Telecom’s services in most areas but with its own network in certain parts of Wellington and Christchurch.
A connection fee will apply, and possibly a bond. You may be required to provide ID for credit checking before your phone is connected. Telecom require that they talk directly to all account holders when setting up the account. Telecom sometimes need to visit the property to effect the connection, in which case a technician will contact you to make an appointment.
Telephone services are billed monthly. You can pay by cheque, automatic payment or credit card.
Telecom offers a range of “smart” services such as Call Minder (voicemail), Call waiting and Call Diversion. You can set these up when you arrange your connection or add them later.
5.2 Electricity
There are multiple electricity providers and these vary from area to area. Check the Telecom Yellow Pages under “Electricity Supply- Retail” for a list of providers servicing your area.
When selecting a provider, it is advisable to connect with the previous supplier of electricity to the property in the first instance. This makes the process much easier, and it can also protect you from the previous supplier physically disconnecting supply to the property, which can happen if they do not have information regarding your new connection. You can always switch suppliers later if you find a better deal, although be warned that this can be a complicated frustrating process. For independent comparative pricing information, check PowerSwitch on www.consumer.org.nz.
When you take over the property check the meter reading and report this through to the power company to ensure you are not being charged for the previous occupant’s power. The meter will normally be placed on an external wall of the house, or, in an apartment complex, in some common area.
Most electricity providers will invoice you monthly, but will only check the meter every two or three months. This means some bills will be “estimated” readings based on the usage for the same period last year. You can check your own meter, and advise this to the supplier, and ask them to send you a revised bill.
It is common for electricity providers to charge a connection fee for a new account, and some may charge a bond which will be refundable after a period of time or when you terminate the account.
5.3 Gas
Reticulated gas supplies are not available in all areas and are not connected to all properties where supply is available. Reticulated gas is not available at all in the South Island. If you wish to use gas in these areas you will have to use bottled LPG gas.
There are multiple gas supply providers and these vary from area to area. In some areas only one provider will be available. Check the Telecom Yellow Pages under “Gas Companies” for a list of providers servicing your area.
When selecting a provider, it is advisable to connect with the previous supplier of gas to the property in the first instance. This makes the process much easier, and it can also protect you from the previous supplier physically disconnecting supply to the property, which can happen if they do not have information regarding your new connection. You can always switch suppliers later if you find a better deal, although be warned that this can be a complicated frustrating process.
When you take over the property check the meter reading and report this through to the gas company to ensure you are not being charged for the previous occupant’s gas. The meter will normally be placed on an external wall of the premises.
Most gas providers will invoice you monthly, but may only check the meter every two or three months. This means some bills will be “estimated” readings based on the usage for the same period last year. You can check your own meter, and advise this to the supplier, and ask them to send you a revised bill.
It is common for gas providers to charge a connection fee for a new account, and some may charge a bond which will be refundable after a period of time or when you terminate the account.
5.4 Water
In the past, water charges were included in council rates as a set annual fee. While this is still the case for most properties, water may be metered and charged in some areas on a user-pays basis. This is most common in Auckland City, where the service provider is Metrowater. If water to a rental property is metered, the charges may be paid by either the landlord or the tenant, depending on the terms of the lease.
6. Finding Accommodation in Wellington
Like all regions, Wellington has significant variation between areas in the type and quality of housing available. There are options ranging from inner city apartments to suburban family homes to seaside cottages to rural lifestyle blocks.
There are few areas in Wellington that would be called either “exclusive” at one end of the spectrum or “undesirable” at the other.
Most suburbs have a mixed range of housing within a fairly small area, rather than having homogeneous housing throughout the suburb. The exceptions to this are some of the newer suburbs such as Broadmeadows, Churton Park, Whitby, Papakowhai and Camborne, which have been developed by developers to follow a certain housing style.
| Average House Sale Prices | for Wellington in May 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington City & Southern | $582,073 | |
| Eastern Wellington | $540,926 | |
| Western Wellington | $603,371 | |
| Northern Wellington | $474,253 | |
| Lower Hutt | $391,116 | |
| Upper Hutt | $337,794 | |
| Porirua | $416,116 | |
| Kapiti Coast | $378,690 |
(Source: Quotable Value NZ, www.qv.co.nz)
| Average House Sale Prices | National in November 2010 |
|---|---|
| Wellington region | $459,648 |
| Auckland region | $528,101 |
| Christchurch region | $409,700 |
| National | $455,899 |
(Source: Quotable Value NZ, www.qv.co.nz)
We recommend that you take some time to view the various parts of the Wellington region before deciding on a particular area. Elemensa can arrange tours of areas that are likely to be of interest to you, and we can provide information regarding facilities available in each area, the public transport links, the type of housing available, climate factors etc.
Our “Welcome to Wellington” guide contains details of the various residential areas.
6.1 Finding Rental Accommodation in Wellington
There are several ways to find rental accommodation in Wellington – either look in the newspaper under “To Let”, use an agent (ie a letting centre, a real estate agent or a property manager) or search the internet. Supermarkets often have notice-boards where landlords may advertise properties to rent.
The Saturday and Wednesday “Dominion Post” newspaper will have the most comprehensive listings of places to let, although there may be listings any day of the week. These listings are online at www.propertystuff.co.nz.
Popular websites for rental properties are www.homelet.co.nz and Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz).
Most letting and real estate agents specialise in a certain geographical area, whereas property managers may manage properties across a wider area. Agents will generally only show you a specific property – they will not take you on a general tour of the area to check out facilities and the locality.
Note that there is not much fully-furnished accommodation available in the Wellington area. Some properties will have whiteware (appliances), but many will be totally unfurnished except for stove (cooker), drapes, light fittings, and floor coverings.
The following companies specialise in Rental accommodation:
Arjay Residential Property Managers
472 7715Bakers
www.bakers.co.nz 471 0320Bethunes
58-60 Oriental Parade 381 0900Care Residential Property Management
99 Molesworth St, Wellington 471 0127Guardian First National
20 Johnsonville Rd 477 5407Harcourts
Cnr High St/Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt 569 2093 25 Rimu Street, Eastbourne 562 8008 48 Main St, Upper Hutt 528 0435Just Property Management
Level 1, 37 Courtenay Place,Wellington 385 9075Bayleys
www.bayleys.co.nz Level 13,Cnr Lambton Quay & Brandon St 499 6044 60 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt 570 1443 336 Jackson St, Petone 568 3021Remax (Leaders)
Wellington City 494 1174 Eastern Suburbs 387 1231 Northern Suburbs 494 5478Villa Rentals (Tawa-Pukerua Bay)
237 3412Quinovic Property Management
www.quinovic.co.nz MTA House, 32-34 Kent Tce, Wellington 384 2333 Pipitea Mews, 13 Murphy St, Thorndon 499 9223 35-37 Victoria St, Wellington 499 0100 193 Vivian St, Wellington 382 8300 Level 1, 245 High St, Lower Hutt 560 4704 116 Mana Esplanade, Mana 233 2442 Survey House, 21-29 Broderick Rd, Johnsonville 477 4735Stirling Real Estate
44-58 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt 566 7712The Professionals – Double Real Estate
234 7300Tommy’s
4 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville 939 8060Other companies list in the Yellow Pages under “Accommodation-Rental” & “Property Management”.
6.2 Purchasing Accommodation in Wellington
Properties are advertised in the newspaper, with the most popular edition being the Saturday “Dominion Post”. There are usually local real estate inserts in the free local newspapers that are delivered weekly to houses in certain areas.
The free papers, “Property Press” and “The Real Estate”, can generally be picked up from bins outside real estate agents and in shopping malls etc. Harcourts, Leaders and The Professionals all produce their own brochures to advertise properties currently on the market as well, and these can often be picked up from bins in shopping areas.
There are many Real Estate agents in the Wellington area. Most operate in a very localised geographical area, so you need to contact agents in the localities of interest to you. Most real estate agents show photos of properties for sale in their office windows, so it is worth a visit to the agents in the housing areas of interest.
The major real estate firms in the Wellington region are:
Remax (Leaders)
www.remax.co.nz 15 Brandon St, Wellington 473 3822 20 Moorefield Rd, Johnsonville 478 9760 136 Karori Rd, Karori 476 8679 21 Ganges Rd, Khandallah 479 2099 66 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie 387 2900 112 The Parade, Island Bay 383 8282 90 Riddiford St, Newtown 389 9093 6 Taurima St, Hataitai 386 3800 180 Main Rd, Tawa 232 5061 Lyttelton Ave, Porirua 237 5314 Lakeside Centre, Discovery Drive, Whitby 234 7017 15 Steyne Avenue, Plimmerton 233 8600 11 Kings Cres, Lower Hutt 920 4000 47 Main St, Upper Hutt 527 9700Bayleys
www.bayleys.co.nz Level 13,Cnr Lambton Quay & Brandon St 499 6044 13 Marina View, Mana 233 8886 60 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt 570 0606 5 Rimu St, Eastbourne 562 0088LJ Hooker
www.ljhooker.co.nz 75 Taranaki St 381 3458 58-62 Johnsonville Rd, Johnsonville 478 3109 168 Main Road, Tawa 232 7172 119 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt 569 9139 22 Queen St, Wainuiomata 564 8644Harvey’s Real Estate
www.harveys.co.nz 5 Kent Tce, Wellington 801 5700 262 Karori Rd, Karori 476 8739 5 Ganges Rd, Khandallah 479 6777 1 Park Rd, Miramar 380 9450 Cnr Queens Drive/Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt 568 5001Guardian First National
www.guardianfirstnational.co.nz 164 Westchester Drive, Churton Park 478 3025 20 Johnsonville Rd, Johnsonville 477 6177Harcourts
www.harcourts.co.nz 28 Grey St, Wellington 473 7563 153 Karori Rd, Karori 476 8752 6 Dekka St, Khandallah 479 7911 68 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie 387 3752 21 Park Rd, Miramar 388 5220 149 Johnsonville Rd, Johnsonville 477 4444 69 Lakewood Ave, Churton Park 477 4445 215 Main Rd, Tawa 232 4178 Mana Esplanade, Mana 233 9233 2 Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt 569 2096 32 Queen St, Wainuiomata 564 7310 1 Rimu St, Eastbourne 562 8008 The Village, Silverstream 528 3159 48 Main St, Upper Hutt 528 0435Just Paterson
www.justpaterson.co.nz 11 Tory St, Wellington 385 7755 67 Dudley St, Lower Hutt 910 9100Ray White Real Estate
www.rwwellingtoncity.co.nz 32-34 Kent Tce, Wellington 472 9323The Professionals
www.professionals.co.nz 287 Tinakori Rd, Thorndon 473 3265 250 Karori Rd, Karori 476 3335 7 Burma Rd, Khandallah 479 9451 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie 387 8055 Johnsonville 478 3317 176 Main Rd, Tawa 232 9955 Lydney Place, Porirua 237 6655 105 Mana Esplanade, Paremata 233 9955 Whitby Shopping Centre, Whitby 234 8866 28 Cornwall St, Lower Hutt 566 2233 5 Gibbons St, Upper Hutt 527 2800Tommy’s
www.tommys.co.nz 209 Victoria Street Wellington 381 8600 4 Johnsonville Rd 939 8070 25 Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt 568 2222 107 Main St, Upper Hutt 528 2422For a more comprehensive list of real estate agents look under Real Estate Agents –Licensed in the Yellow Pages, or check the property pages in Saturday’s “Dominion Post”.
7. Finding Accommodation in Auckland
Auckland is a large city geographically, spanning some 580 square kilometres, so new residents are warned that it can take some time to get from one area to another, at any time of the day. You should consider your likely place of employment and commuting time before deciding on an area to live. As many schools operate enrolment schemes based on your home being in a defined residential area, this is also an important consideration in selecting housing.
We recommend that you take some time to view the various parts of the Auckland region before deciding on a particular area.
Like all regions, Auckland has significant variation between areas in the type and quality of housing available. There are options ranging from inner city apartments to suburban family homes to seaside cottages to rural lifestyle blocks.
Housing styles vary from suburb to suburb. Most older houses are bungalows made of wood, brick or stucco. The classic Auckland character villa is a single level dwelling with bay windows and verandahs. From the 1970s many houses have been built as split-level dwellings, often with a garage on the lower level. Modern houses are often timber-framed with a sprayed plaster finish, giving a Mediterranean look, although timber finish is also popular.
In-fill housing is common in Auckland, as owners subdivide their large plots of land and build another dwelling on part of their property.
The most expensive suburbs in Auckland are Remuera, Parnell, Orakei, Epsom, Kohimarama, St Heliers, Herne Bay, and Takapuna.
| Average House Sale Prices | for Auckland in May 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland City | $607,054 | |
| North Harbour | $634,074 | |
| North Shore Onewa | $486,279 | |
| Waitakere City | $400,369 | |
| Auckland South | $531,941 | |
| Hibiscus Coast | $495,913 | |
| Bay of Islands | $689,972 | |
| Coastal North Shore | $692,236 | |
| Rodney North | $513,876 | |
| Auckland East | $765,896 | |
| Papakura | $365,307 | |
| Manukau East | $556,051 | |
| Maukau Centre | $329,639 | |
| Manukau North | $413,511 |
(Source: Quatable Value NZ, www.qv.co.nz)
The choice of housing is a very individual decision, which obviously rests with the household concerned. However, we are able to provide information based on long-term local knowledge to assist you in these decisions.
7.1 Finding Rental Accommodation in Auckland
There are several ways to find rental accommodation in Auckland – either look in the newspaper under “To Let”, use an agent (ie a letting centre, a real estate agent or a property manager) or search the internet. You could also try putting an advertisement up on a noticeboard at the local supermarket if you are looking for a property in a particular area. Landlords sometimes advertise properties to rent on these boards as well.
The Saturday morning newspaper, the Weekend Herald, will have the most comprehensive listings of places to let, although there may be listings any day of the week.
Popular websites for rental properties are www.homelet.co.nz and Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz).
Most letting and real estate agents specialise in a certain geographical area, whereas property managers may manage properties across a wider area. Agents will generally only show you a specific property – they will not take you on a general tour of the area to check out facilities and the locality.
Note that there is not much fully-furnished accommodation available, apart from apartments in the central city, in the Auckland area. Some properties will have whiteware (appliances), but many will be totally unfurnished except for stove (cooker), drapes, light fittings, and floor coverings.
There are too many agents in Auckland to list here. A full list will be found in the Yellow Pages under “Accommodation-Rental” & “Property Management”. Note that this can be accessed through the internet at www.yellowpages.co.nz.
7.2 Purchasing Accommodation in Auckland
Properties are advertised in the newspaper, with the most popular edition being the Saturday Weekend Herald. There are often local real estate inserts in the free local newspapers that are delivered weekly to houses in certain areas.
The weekly free paper, “Property Press” can generally be picked up from bins outside real estate agents and in shopping malls etc. Larger agents produce their own brochures to advertise properties currently on the market as well, and these can often be picked up from bins in shopping areas.
Most real estate agents also show photos of properties for sale in their office windows, so it is worth a visit to the agents in the housing areas of interest.
There are many Real Estate agents in the Auckland area. Most operate in a very localised geographical area, so you need to contact an agent in the localities of interest to you.
The major agents are:
Remax (www.remax.co.nz)
Harcourts (www.harcourts.co.nz)
Barfoot and Thompson (www.barfoot.co.nz)
LJ Hooker (www.ljhooker.co.nz)
Bayleys (www.bayleys.co.nz)
Ray White (www.raywhite.com)
Century21 (www.century21nz.co.nz).
Most real estate agents now have Internet web sites. These may be useful before arrival for getting a general feel as to what is available, and for price comparisons. There is a list of web sites in the References section at the end of this guide.
For a more comprehensive list of real estate agents look under Real Estate Agents –Licensed in the Yellow Pages (note that this can be accessed via the Internet at www.yellowpages.co.nz), or check the property pages in Saturday’s Weekend Herald.
Many houses in Auckland are offered for sale by auction or tender, and therefore prices are not shown on advertisements. It is thus difficult to get a feel for the property values from the newspaper advertisements. Some information regarding values and sales trends can be obtained from Quotable Value New Zealand (www.qv.co.nz) or the Real Estate Institute (www.reinz.co.nz).
8.Finding Accommodation in Christchurch
The first step in finding accommodation in Christchurch is to identify which areas you would consider living in.
Generally you will make this selection based on the access to facilities that are important to you (such as schools, shops, public transport, recreational opportunities etc), and on other factors such as proximity to the city, the general nature of the area, the attractiveness of the locality, climate, cost of housing, etc.
Christchurch is a large city geographically, so new residents are warned that it can take some time to get from one area to another, at any time of the day. You should consider your likely place of employment and commuting time before deciding on an area to live. As many schools operate enrolment schemes based on your home being in a defined residential area, this is also an important consideration in selecting housing.
We recommend that you take some time to view the various parts of the Christchurch region before deciding on a particular area. We can arrange tours of areas that are likely to be of interest to you, and we can provide detailed information regarding facilities available in each area, the public transport links, the type of housing available, school zones, climate factors etc.
Like all regions, Christchurch has significant variation between areas in the type and quality of housing available. There are options ranging from inner city apartments to suburban family homes to seaside cottages to rural lifestyle blocks.
Housing styles vary from suburb to suburb. Most older houses are bungalows made of wood, brick or stucco. The classic New Zealand character villa is a single level dwelling with bay windows and verandahs. From the 1970s many houses have been built as split-level dwellings, often with a garage on the lower level. Modern houses are often timber-framed with a sprayed plaster finish, giving a Mediterranean look, although timber finish is also popular.
In-fill housing is common in Christchurch, as owners subdivide their large plots of land and build another dwelling on part of their property.
8.1 Finding Rental Accommodation in Christchurch
There are three main ways to find rental accommodation in Christchurch – either look in the newspaper under “To Let”, use an agent (ie a letting centre, a real estate agent or a property manager) or check various internet sites (such as www.homelet.co.nz or www.trademe.co.nz).
You could also try putting an advertisement up on a noticeboard at the local supermarket if you are looking for a property in a particular area. Landlords sometimes advertise properties to rent on these boards as well.
The Saturday morning newspaper “The Press” will have the most comprehensive listings of places to let, and Wednesday is the second most popular day for advertisers.
Most letting and real estate agents specialise in a certain geographical area, whereas property managers may manage properties across a wider area. Agents will generally only show you a specific property – they will not take you on a general tour of the area to check out facilities and the locality.
Note that there is not much fully-furnished accommodation available, apart from central city apartments, in the Christchurch area. Some properties will have whiteware (appliances), but many will be totally unfurnished except for stove (cooker), drapes, light fittings, and floor coverings.
Letting agents and property managers list in the Yellow Pages under “Accommodation-Rental” & “Property Management”. Note that this can be accessed through the internet at www.yellowpages.co.nz.
Some companies that specialise in rental accommodation:
- Remax (leaders): www.remax.co.nz, 235 Stanmore Road, Richmond, phone 03 371 5000
- LJ Hooker: www.ljhooker.co.nz, Unit B, 135 Farrington Avenue, Bishopdale Mall, Christchurch, phone: 030359 5874
- Accommodate: www.accommodate.co.nz, Office phone: 03 367 9002, Mobile: 021 864 772
- McPherson Property Management: www.christchurchrentalproperties.co.nz, Cnr Riccarton & Waimairi Rds Church Corner, phone: 03 343 3206
8.2 Purchasing Accommodation in Christchurch
Detailed information on the house-buying process in New Zealand is provided in our “Life in New Zealand” and “Renting and Owning Property in New Zealand” documents, and we can provide referrals to the appropriate professional services such as solicitors, lending institutions, valuers, surveyors etc. We also recommend you read “How to Get the House You Want”, published by the Consumers’ Institute of New Zealand.
Properties are advertised in the newspaper, with the most popular edition being the Saturday Press. There are often local real estate inserts in the free local newspapers that are delivered weekly to houses in certain areas.
The weekly free paper, “Property Press” can generally be picked up from bins outside real estate agents and in shopping malls etc. Larger agents produce their own brochures to advertise properties currently on the market as well, and these can often be picked up from bins in shopping areas.
Most real estate agents also show photos of properties for sale in their office windows, so it is worth a visit to the agents in the housing areas of interest.
There are many Real Estate agents in the Christchurch area. Most operate in a very localised geographical area, so you need to contact an agent in the localities of interest to you.
Note that Real Estate agents in New Zealand are paid by the vendor upon sale of the house, and their commission is a percentage of the price paid. Therefore, it is important to remember that they are acting in the best interests of the vendor, rather than the buyer.
Most real estate agents now have Internet web sites. These may be useful before arrival for getting a general feel as to what is available, and for price comparisons.
Web sites to try are:
www.trademe.co.nz www.realestate.co.nz www.allrealestate.co.nz www.open2view.co.nz www.homesell.co.nz www.realestate.co.nz www.remax.co.nz www.firstnational.co.nz www.harcourts.co.nz www.bayleys.co.nz www.ljhooker.co.nz www.raywhite.co.nz www.barfoot.co.nz www.century21crest.co.nzFor a more comprehensive list of real estate agents look under Real Estate Agents –Licensed in the Yellow Pages (note that this can be accessed via the Internet at www.yellowpages.co.nz, or check the property pages in Saturday’s newspaper.
It is common practice in New Zealand for houses to be marketed with an “open home”, a time where you can view the house without an individual appointment. These are normally held on weekends or summer evenings, with times advertised in the newspaper or real estate publications.
Some houses are sold by auction or tender. This means they are not advertised with a specific price. This means it is also hard to get a general feeling for the property values in an area from looking at the advertising. To do this, you may need to talk with several real estate agents, or look at the Quotable Value NZ (www.quotable.co.nz) or Real Estate Institute (www.reinz.org.nz) websites for information regarding recent sales and valuation estimates based on comparable sales. If you are specifically interested in a specific property to purchase, obtain an independent valuation from a registered valuer.
| Average House Sale Prices | for Christchurch in May 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Waimakariri | $327,393 | |
| Southwest | N/A | |
| Selwyn | $380,485 | |
| East | N/A | |
| Central & North | N/A | |
| Hills | N/A | |
| Bank Peninsula | N/A |
(Source: Quatable Value NZ, www.qv.co.nz)
9. References
9.1 Publications
“How To Get The House You Want”, Consumers Institute of New Zealand, 1996
“Renting and You”, Department of Building & Housing Tenancy Services
9.2 Internet Sites
- Department of Building & Housing site, useful information on your rights as a tenant, and the bond process: www.dbh.govt.nz
- Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, general information on real estate in New Zealand: www.reinz.org.nz
- ANZ Bank site with supporting information for home buyers: www.homebuying.co.nz
- Overseas Investment Office: www.oio.linz.govt.nz
- Rental sites: www.homelet.co.nz, www.trademe.co.nz, www.propertystuff.co.nz (Wellington)
- Real estate agent and property purchase sites:
www.allrealestate.co.nz, www.open2view.co.nz, www.trademe.co.nz, www.realestate.co.nz, www.harcourts.co.nz, www.professionals.co.nz, www.remax.co.nz, www.justpaterson.co.nz, www.ljhooker.co.nz, www.tommys.co.nz, www.barfoot.co.nz, www.raywhite.com, www.bayleys.co.nz, www.homesell.co.nz
10. Glossary
| Apt | Apartment | |
| Auto door | Automatic garage door | |
| BIR/BER/BBO | Buyer Inquiry Range/Buyer Enquiry Range/Buyer Bid Over | |
| Bond | Money paid by tenant, and held in trust by the Department of Building & Housing until the end of the tenancy as protection for the landlord against damage, unpaid rent ,etc. | |
| Brs or brms | Bedrooms | |
| Closed Tender | Intending buyers make written bids inside a set time period. | |
| Conveyancing | The legal process of house sale and purchase | |
| C/h | Central heating | |
| C/pk | Car-park | |
| Cross-lease | You own a share of the land and lease the buildings on it. | |
| Dbr or dbrm | Double bedroom | |
| D/w | Dishwasher | |
| Ex or exc con | Excellent condition | |
| Exec | Executive | |
| Flat | = an apartment. Often the term "flat" is used for more suburban locations while apartments are normally located close to the city centre. | |
| F/f | Fully furnished | |
| Freehold | The owner of the property owns the land as well as the buildings on it. | |
| Gge | Garage | |
| GV | Government Valuation, i.e. the value for rating purposes. Also called Rating Valuation. | |
| Hse | House | |
| I/a | Internal access from garage to house | |
| Leasehold | The land is leased from the owner. | |
| Neg | Negotiable | |
| N/s | No smokers (usually this means not inside the property) | |
| Open Home | A specific time at which a house for sale may be viewed without an individual appointment. | |
| Open Tender | Intending buyers make written bids, with no deadline set. | |
| O/s park | Off street car park, i.e. there is room to park your car on the property | |
| OYO | = "Own-your-own", usually a small flat. | |
| Prkg | Parking | |
| Pw | Per week | |
| RV | Rating Valuation - the valuation for rating purposes, also known as Government Valuation. | |
| Section | Plot or block of land on which a house is built | |
| Solicitor | Lawyer who conducts conveyancing. | |
| Townhouse | Usually a modern semi-detached dwelling, with some outside area. | |
| Unfurn | Unfurnished | |
| Villa | Older house, usually pre 1920 | |
| W/W | Whiteware, i.e. washing machine, drier, fridge, et |