Looking through rental listings...
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19305
Printed Date: 12 October 2025 at 7:08am
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Topic: Looking through rental listings...
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Subject: Looking through rental listings...
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 6:46pm
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Just a few quick questions.
When you email the land agents/owners is it advisable to go into too much detail or just a simple ' Is this listing still available and would we be able to arrange a time to view' suffice enough? I mean, when Lucas & I turn up on our own to view a place, our situation will obviously speak for itself ...I'm so paranoid about mentioning that I'm a solo mum, I feel like if I do so to start off with I won't be given the chance to even look at the place! How does the whole process work, say you view it & you like it ...then what? My parents have wrapped me up in cotton wool for so long I am unaware of how these things work so please excuse my ignorance. Any advice and tips on what to look for, how it all works and what I can do to increase my chances of making a good impression (I know a good start would be NOT letting Lucas run around and tear the place apart when first viewing it  lol) would be greatly appreciated.
TIA Oh and while I remember, question for Aucklanders ...what is the usual going rate for a 2 bdroom and a 3 bdroom place? ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Replies:
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:03pm
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I'm not going to be much help, but we've just started looking into other rental listings this week and we state in the email that we're a married couple with a young child. I would rather not waste my time, making a viewing time, and turn up for them to be put off by having a toddler in the house! It's all pretty daunting, even when you have done it before. Generally, the person who gets the final say is going to be the landlord or the rental managers, so they'll tell you if your application for the place is successful or not.
Good luck! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:05pm
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I agree, the solo mum thing shouldn't be a big deal but some landlords are funny about toddlers coz of the mess they can make.
Cost depends on what part of Auck you live in but as an idea, I paid $250 for a 2 brm flat in Mt Albert, $320 for a 3 brm house in Avondale and now we pay $400 for a 4 brm in Hillsborough. The 2brm unit downstairs is $270 and the 1 brm flats at the back are $250. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:18pm
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Yeah Emma its a really nice place I have my eye on, 3 bedrooms and $270 pw, fenced off section, refurbished blah blah
And oh my the kitchen is AWESOME  ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:32pm
I thought aukland was really expensive  Sounds cheaper than wellington  -------------  
 
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Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 8:18pm
I was thinking the same! |
AliaDawn wrote:Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 8:21pm
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i actually found lots of people keen on us with kids - less likely to be able to leave in a hurry!
I would mention you have a toddler - just so they show you suitable (i.e. fenced) places. |
Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 8:25pm
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It also depends whether is is listed privately or through an agent. Some agencies will get you to fill in forms with all your details/income etc and do credit checks before they will take you through somewhere. And if there is more than one person interested then they can basically choose who they want to let it to - it isn't first in first served so to speak.
Pricing really varies around different suburbs. I rented in Papatoetoe a few years ago and paid $235 and $250 for 2 bed flats. But we rented our 3 bed townhouse in Wattle Downs for $370 last year. Good luck  ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 9:07pm
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I ended up emailing for the house I'm really interested in, ran my little introduction/exerpt past Jo first (thanks for your opinion darl ) and just took the leap and sent it! Talk about nerve racking...
I fell in love instantly, was too good to let it go by so have decided that IF (very big if as I'm sure lots of others have taken an interest too) we do get it, and I like the place etc etc then I will take it as a sign that its meant to be. If not, I won't be disheartened but I will put off the idea of moving for a couple more months like my Dad would prefer. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: ellen
Date Posted: 20 July 2008 at 10:09pm
| I thought under the Human Rights Act landlords couldn't discriminate against marital status or family situation? I know there's probably ways of getting around it though. Maybe I'm thinking of employment? Anyway good luck in your search. |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:38am
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Some potential landlords are quite sympathetic so as long as your able to pay the rent and it not be detrimental to you in any way then you'll be fine. The home I'm living in at the moment I got by placing an ad and my landlord emailed me and pretty much gave the place straight away without meeting or talking on the phone or anything! I don't think they come much better then them though...they're awesome. But yea I explained my situation in my ad and though I'm not a solo parent we still only have one income. So I don't think you should be discriminated against because your a solo parent, that doesn't determine the trustworthiness of a person. Gosh I know a family (the inlaws....) who bring in around $80,000 a year and yet they get thousands of dollars behind in rent..have been served eviction notices...and now have to move because the LL wants their house back, yet my partner brings in $40,000 and has never missed a payment and our rents differ by $25. ------------- 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:44am
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My pleasure, always happy to help. I have everything crossed for you, it's such a gorgeous place. You've got the right attitude, whatever's meant to happen will happen. I wish I could find somewhere like that in Wgtn (esp for that price) maybe something will come up when we're ready to move in Nov.
-------------  
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 12:02pm
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Ive house hunted quite a few times the last time Issy was about three months old as who knew they took up so much space!
I have found that in most situations its always better to call than email ... especially if really keen on a property, especially as rentals tend to get snapped up so quickly! That price sounds awesome! We pay $500.00 for a three bedroom in Parnell and we were paying $380.00 for a two bedroom in Epsom/Mt Eden. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 12:34pm
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My advice is be prepared that you won't get it - sorry to be negative, but we were looking from the beginning of this year, and most places were crap for a huge amount per week, others we were interested in but we weren't accepted (they chose professional couples with no children instead )
We just found a place and have signed forms etc, but are paying waaaay more than that for a 3 bdm ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 3:11pm
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Steph - as a landlord we look at everyone...however we do define how many adults and kids will live at the properties....eg a lot of mums on DPB out this way will combine a property to get in a good school zone etc...we do not want three mums and five kids etc in a 4 beddie....and believe me it does happen! so my advice is specify at start if you need to rent out a room or take a boarder....
we rent out a 2 beddie for $360 and a four beddie for $580....a lot cheaper than some peoples mortgages to our tenants.... |