newzealandplease

I've never rented in the UK never mind NZ. Any tips/gotchas for a renting newby? Have to pull my finger out next week and get something sorted. Looking for something in Hairini or Greerton area.

What do you do in terms of references? I don't have any as I've never rented.

cypherpunk

Bit of a thread here. We didn't have any references and were never asked for any. We were accepted for every place we applied for so we must have checked out OK.

Ash1

I shouldn`t worry too much about references as they generally are used to pomms turning up with no history. As far as areas go, Greerton and Hairini are 10-15 mins from us. Personally , I wouldn`t go for Greerton and I dont know Hairini that well. If you do find one that interests you, drop me the address and I`ll check it out for you.
Ash

Maz

We didn't have any references either, and it was no biggee. Best advice I can give is to get any fixed-term period to be as short as humanely possible, with it changing to periodic after that.

cappuccino

From my experience of Greerton, its fine there, just Merivale you should avoid!

BEVS

Top Tip.

Make sure you only agree to a periodic tenancy. Nothing else. Periodic

Next tip

Pay your bond to Tenancy Services. No one else !

The Main Tip

Please read here.

Finally

I doubt they will care about refs. They are after your $$$$$.

If you have an animal , then offer extra security by way of an extra bond . This extra bond is paid to Tenancy Services.

I've lost count of the amount of times I read of someone being stung by fixed term leases. Six months or so +.
Some have to find another tenant or are liable for the rent.
some leave early , then get stung for having to maintain the garden.


Read the fine print . Make sure you go through the tenancy agreement with the landlord. Take pictures. Make sure to what you agree to by way of carpet cleaning , curtains and the garden.

Finally ---- Haggle. You can often reduce the rent this way.

whitesand

Most importantly don't book anything you haven't seen beforehand and don't book from the Uk.

Only take a three weeks notice rental as this allows you to chop and change.

See lots of properties from lots of different estate agents - don't take the first one you see unless it is really good.

Do use the local papers as well as estate agents as most advertise in these as well and you get a true idea of prices from these papers.

Don't believe estate agent hype that there is not much around - there is always lots arouond. Don't settle for something because you are scared there may be nothing else.

Goo luck!

cypherpunk

Well, it depends on your situation. A fixed-term tenancy gives you some security in an environment where a lot of landlords are selling up. Also it gives you more leverage if repairs need to be done, because the landlord can't just boot you out for making a fuss (not strictly legal but it happens). If you are not sure whether you will like the house or the neighbourhood, or you may need to move for work, then by all means go for a periodic tenancy, but I wouldn't reject a fixed-term tenancy out of hand, just make sure you know what you are getting into.

karonious

I went for a year's fixed tenancy as I really needed the security of knowing I couldn't be chucked out on a whim.
I hadn't seen the house but Nicci Littletoe came and looked at it for me - bless her. Once she said she would be happy to live here herself - that was good enough for me
I appreciate it doesn't always work out for everyone but so far it has been a good move. The letting agent sees to any repairs that need doing and he has been very helpful all round. Even invited me over to his house to use the landline and internet to set my electricity/phone/broadband up.

BEVS

Yes. That is a fair comment. It does give security for a fixed period provided there are no hidden clauses.