Student housing in New Zealand
How student housing works in New Zealand, including providers, queues, deposits, contracts and practical risks to check before signing.
Read the complete New Zealand study abroad guide.
Housing
First year students commonly live in a hall of residence, catered or self catered, and applications open early and fill. Apply as soon as you accept an offer.
After the first year most students flat, sharing a house, and in Dunedin the student flat is a cultural institution rather than merely accommodation. Auckland and Wellington are dear; Dunedin, Hamilton and Palmerston North are not.
New Zealand houses are famously cold and poorly insulated. Ask about insulation, heating and damp before you sign anything, and understand that a Healthy Homes standard exists and applies to rentals. A cheap flat you cannot heat is not cheap.
A bond of up to four weeks rent is lodged with Tenancy Services rather than held by the landlord. Rent is quoted weekly. Multiply by 52 and divide by 12 before you decide you can afford it.
Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/
Common questions
What should international students know about housing in New Zealand?
Halls first, then a flat. Ask about insulation and heating: New Zealand houses are cold.