Renting in the City
There are over 17,000 people living in the inner-city. It’s well-known that buying a home in the inner-city is really expensive so that means lots of people are renting.
Many people say it’s tough to find something that’s warm, dry and affordable. Many say that rental agreements can be confusing, and it’s difficult to understand what their rental rights are.
This page provides information about some of the services that might be able to help.
About the Healthy Homes Standards
The healthy homes standards became law on 1 July 2019. The healthy homes standards introduce specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties.
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy.
Tenancy Services
This agency that can help people who are renting. Tenancy Services provides information on rights and responsibilities for tenants, landlords and unit title owners. The Tenancy Services website has information and resources about the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the Healthy Homes Standards, and other regulations for tenants and landlords. Here are some pages in the website that provide more information.
Renters United
Renters United is an advocacy group that organises renters and campaigns to make renting in New Zealand better for everyone. ?We see decent housing as a basic human right and our broken renting system as a barrier to realising this right for all.”
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Citizens Advice Bureau provide free, confidential, independent information and advice to anyone. “We help people know what their rights are and how to access services they need. We use insights from our clients' experiences to show when policies and laws and/or their implementation are having a negative impact on people. We work for positive social change. We are an independent community organisation whose service is delivered by over 2,000 committed and trained volunteers.”
Community Law
Community Law offers specialist housing advice and advocacy services for people living in Te Awa Kairangi / Lower Hutt and Te Whanganui-a-Tara/ Wellington. In Te Whanganui-a-Tara, you can drop-in and speak to a lawyer on Mondays between 5.30pm and 7pm.
“We offer an 0800 call back advice line for housing-related legal issues. Call us confidentially on the housing call-back legal advice line: 0800-119-749. Our specialist rōia (lawyers) can help with legal problems related to housing. The service is aimed at supporting whānau to prevent homelessness. It provides free legal advice on matters such as:
Evictions
Rent increases
Tenancy damage/repairs, applications to the Tenancy Tribunal
Disputes with landlords and Kāinga Ora
MSD social and emergency housing and applications
New legal changes due to Covid 19.”
Sustainability Trust
Housing advocacy and support.
”We offer a range of healthy housing services to help households live in warm, dry, safe homes. Depending on your living situation, we can check your house for free, offer energy advice and discuss health and social support. We want to help families achieve a warm, dry home that is safe, with enough space for the whole household.
Do you have a Community Services Card or a SuperGold Combo Card?
Do you have high-energy bills that you struggle to keep up with?
Do you have children under the age of 14 living with you?
If you rent or own a cold, damp home in the Wellington Region, and answered yes to any of the questions above, we can help. Our two free in-home programmes – Well Homes & Warm Fuzzies - can help with curtains, on-the-spot installs, advice and support.”
Te Kāinga affordable rental programme
Te Kāinga is a partnership between the Council and private building owners to provide high quality, family-friendly, long-term rental housing to workers in Wellington.
Youth Citizens Advice Bureau
This part of the Citizens Advice Bureau website focuses on “whether you are a tenant, a flatmate or a boarder determines your rights when renting.”
VUWSA’s Advocacy Service for Victoria University students
VUWSA explains that “We all need someone who can support us. Our advocacy service is free, professional and confidential. We are 100% independent from the University, which means the advice which we provide will always be in your best interest.”