How To Rent A House In New Zealand Hillside Homes in Wellington The rent you pay will be influenced by: The area the house is in. Areas where wealthy people live, with well-regarded schools, command high rent prices. Areas where poorer people live, and the schools are less well-regarded, command lower rents. The condition the house is in. If the kitchen fittings, bathroom fittings and carpets are a bit tired and worn looking you should pay a lower rent. The size of the flat or house. As you would expect, bigger costs more. Jargon Most New Zealand homes will be described as "apartments", "units", "houses", or "townhouses". An apartment is likely to be a home with other homes above and/or below it in a block. A "unit or flat" is likely to be a semi-detached house or a terraced / row house. A "house" is likely to be a detached / standalone house. A "townhouse" is likely to be a detached / stand-alone house or it might be attached to another house. Townhouses are usually reasonably modern and have smaller gardens than "houses". The prices we quote in the price guides are for unfurnished homes. The vast majority of homes for rent in New Zealand are unfurnished. (Unfurnished homes will be carpeted, have some form of heating and have curtains/drapes and a cooker.) Rental Contracts There are two common types of rental contract -- the fixed term tenancy and the periodic tenancy. The Fixed Term Tenancy When you sign a