Compare two homes over your first eight weeks
A cheaper weekly rent can come with extra temporary accommodation or setup purchases. Replace this fictional example with your shortlist. Amounts are NZD; bonds and advance-rent timing go into the full move plan.
Example: Home A costs NZ$5,400 for eight weeks’ rent and setup. Home B costs NZ$6,180 for six weeks’ rent, fourteen temporary nights and setup. Home B costs NZ$780 more over these eight weeks. Travel is excluded in this starting example.
Transferring a home carries its rent, tenancy date, temporary stay and setup purchase. The preview lets you reconcile setup purchases and travel with amounts already in your move plan.
Compare the home, the start date and the cost of waiting
Choose homes around the places you need to reach every week. Record the actual rent, availability, commute, furnishings and immediate purchases. Check the local rent references for a comparable area and property type, then use the listing or agreed rent for your own comparison.
Use the property comparison above for the two homes. Mark any unconfirmed utility charge or furnishing need as unknown, then use this viewing record to capture the details behind each choice.
| Detail to confirm | Home A | Home B |
|---|---|---|
| Listing reference and date checked | ||
| Viewing date and who will attend | ||
| Agreement parties and type | ||
| Commute destination, time, mode and weekly cost | ||
| Furnishings and utilities included | ||
| Unanswered question and next action |
A cheaper weekly rent can cost more at the start
A fictional household arrives on 1 November 2026 and compares the eight weeks through 26 December. Home A starts immediately at NZ$650 a week. Home B starts on 15 November at NZ$600 a week, so it needs a temporary stay from 1 November to checkout on 15 November.
| Expense within the same eight weeks | Home A | Home B |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the weeks occupied | 8 × $650 = $5,200 | 6 × $600 = $3,600 |
| Temporary accommodation | $0 | 14 nights × $120 = $1,680 |
| Setup purchases | $200 | $900 |
| These expenses combined, NZD | $5,400 | $6,180 |
Home B costs NZ$780 more over those eight weeks despite its lower rent. Transport, utilities and other moving expenses still need adding. Bonds are separate amounts tied up during the tenancy, and advance rent must be credited against the weeks it pays for. Take the tenancy start, temporary check-in and checkout, setup amount, bond, advance rent and payment dates into the move-cost comparison to check whether cash is available when needed.
Prepare an application pack the agent can use
Ask what the agent accepts and when it is needed. A newcomer may have overseas references or little New Zealand credit history. An employer reference may be useful, but acceptance is for the agent to confirm.
| Item | What I have / what is requested / next action |
|---|---|
| Contact method during the move | |
| Current address and rental history | |
| Requested identity evidence | |
| Overseas referees and time zones | |
| Requested evidence of ability to pay |
Copy and adapt this enquiry:
I am moving to New Zealand on [date] and my rental references are overseas. Which references and evidence of ability to pay do you accept, and at what stage should I provide them? My referees can respond by [method/time zone]. Please let me know your application process and how to send the requested documents securely.
Give referees notice and obtain their permission to share contact details. Keep the documents in your own files; the worksheet needs only preparation notes. Read the purpose and consent wording before submitting an application. Tenancy Services says landlords should collect only necessary information, explain its use and obtain permission for credit checks, which should be limited to preferred applicants. Its pre-tenancy guidance explains these requirements.
Establish whether you will be a tenant or a flatmate
A listing for a “room” can describe different arrangements. Ask who signs the agreement and whom you pay before using ordinary tenancy cost limits.
| Arrangement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| You sign a tenancy agreement with the landlord | You are a tenant under the Residential Tenancies Act. Co-tenants can be responsible for the whole rent and damage caused by another tenant, beyond their own share. |
| A tenant lets you share their home under a flatmate agreement | Your agreement is with that tenant. Flatmate arrangements are outside the Residential Tenancies Act, and your rights depend on the agreement. Record rent, notice, bills and any bond terms in writing. |
The official flatting guide includes a flat-sharing template and explains the distinction. Boarding-house and service tenancies have their own rules; identify those arrangements with the landlord before applying the ordinary upfront-cost example.
Take observable questions to the viewing
Check the rooms you will use every day. Note what you see, then ask about anything the viewing cannot establish.
| Look and ask | Answer and follow-up |
|---|---|
| Which windows open? Where do kitchen and bathroom fans vent? How does the heater work? | |
| Is there visible damp, mould, staining or a smell? What caused it and what work is planned? | |
| Which appliances and furnishings stay? Is there suitable laundry, storage and furniture space? | |
| What are noise, access, parking and shared areas like? Who maintains the outdoor areas? | |
| Which utilities are included? What must I arrange, and when can I collect the keys? |
For a remote move, arrange a trusted viewing or live walkthrough. Match the address and person you are dealing with to the proposed agreement. Confirm payment instructions using independently obtained contact details, especially if those instructions change. Keep unanswered questions on the sheet until you have a reply.
Keep a practical accommodation fallback too: record the booked checkout date, extension price, cancellation deadline and your availability for viewings. If a home becomes available a week later, update both the tenancy start and temporary nights in your cash comparison.
Read the agreement with the payment schedule beside it
Tenancy Services’ agreement guidance sets out the required contents. It requires a signed healthy homes statement and says a separately signed statement about the current level of compliance is needed for most new, renewed or varied agreements. Its required-statements guide explains insurance and insulation information. Ask about missing statements or unclear terms before signing.
Keep a signed record when the keys change hands
Use Tenancy Services’ initial-inspection guidance and property inspection report for the agreed condition record. Inspect together where possible, photograph the condition and record existing damage and cleanliness. Both parties should sign and date the report and keep a copy.
Use the viewing sheet to compare homes. At move-in, the signed inspection report records the agreed starting condition for any later bond-refund discussion. See the bond and payment checklist before transferring the upfront money.
Tenancy Services guidance checked 12 October 2026. Example properties and costs are fictional.