The following information was correct at the time of writing; however it’s an ever-evolving industry so we do recommend doing your own research.

Are you finding yourself overwhelmed by the advice for first time renters out there? It’s true that renting a home for the first time may cause many questions – not only for tenants but also for landlords. We are here to answer all your questions with the ultimate first time renter checklist!

Keep reading to learn:

• what your rights and responsibilities are as a tenant or landlord;
• what to keep in mind when moving into or renting a property for the first time;
• the best tips for first time landlords and tenants.

Landlord’s responsibilities

Being a landlord for the first time means you will have to get informed about your rights and obligations. Landlords who are renting out property for the first time will need to be aware of their responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Landlords are legally required to:

• Ensure their property meets building, health, and safety standards.
• Hand over the property to the tenant in decent condition. They must add carrying out all repairs and maintenance to their new landlord checklist well before a tenant moves in.
• Allow tenants to peacefully enjoy the property without interruptions.
• Inform tenants in advance if they intend to sell the property.
• Be represented by an agent if they spend more than 21 consecutive days outside of New Zealand.
• Declare income earned from renting the property.
• Allow tenants’ requests to make minor changes to their rental property.

 

Tenant’s responsibilities

As a first time home renter, you will have to be aware of your responsibilities prior to renting a house. Your first time renters’ guide should include your responsibilities, which are:

• Paying rent on time.
• Keeping the property in good condition.
• Immediately informing the landlord about any damage or repairs needed.
• Paying for electricity, gas and internet.
• Leaving the property clean, tidy, and rubbish-free, as well as returning all keys to the landlord.
• Getting the landlord’s written consent in order to make minor alterations to the property.

 

Mutual responsibilities

It is the responsibility of both landlords and tenants to ensure the tenancy agreement is in writing and they have records of it. Landlords and tenants should always be keeping their contact details up-to-date, and neither party is allowed to change the locks of the property without the other’s permission.

Landlord’s checklist

To be a successful first time landlord, you must tick off the following items off your checklist prior to putting your house on the market:

• Carry out necessary maintenance and repairs.
• Ensure your property is lawful for residential use, complying with building health and safety regulations. The healthy homes standards cover heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping.
• Get all required statements. Landlords must provide statements for all tenants that they comply with the healthy homes standards, as well as an insulation and insurance statement.
• Add checking that smoke alarms are correctly installed and working properly to your first time landlord checklist.
• Advertise the property, as you won’t be able to accept bids without an advert displaying the rental amount.
• Collect the contacts you’ll need for repairs, the local council or real estate agents that can solve your questions. This is one of the most useful new landlord tips that will save you lots of time!
• Screen your tenants to ensure they are trustworthy and will take care of the property.
• Record the condition of the property during the property inspection by taking photos as a last step of your first time landlord guide.

Tenant’s checklist

If it’s your first time renting, there is a checklist for you, too! Before you take the big step of moving out of your family’s home, you will need to consider a few things carefully. Use the points below as your first time renting guide:

• Tenancy duration: You should be aware of the differences between periodic and fixed term tenancies. Periodic tenancies have no end date, lasting until either the landlord or tenant decides to end them. Fixed term tenancies last until a specific date mentioned in a tenancy agreement. Think carefully about how long you want to commit to a specific property for.
• Rental price: Choose a property you can comfortably pay for and consider applying for financial help if you are struggling to cover your rent.
• Property location: Decide what type of area you would like to live in and find out what the future planned developments there are.
• Collect necessary documentation: This includes your ID and references, among other statements.
• Check that the property is safe: It is important to guarantee that it has working smoke alarms and meets all healthy homes standards. People renting a house out for the first time often forget to do this.
• Get statements from landlord: Ensure that your landlord can provide you with all necessary statements, including one regarding the property’s insulation and information about the property’s insurance policy.
• Finally, to complete your renting a house for the first time checklist, discuss house rules with the landlord: For example, are there any rules about smoking, pets or specifics about rubbish disposal and recycling?

Mutual checklist

At the end of the day, tenants and landlords must cooperate in order to achieve a smooth tenancy on both ends. Their mutual responsibilities include the following:

• Reading and having a thorough understanding of the tenancy agreement before signing it.
• Agreeing on the inventory of items provided with the property together and taking photos of the condition of the house on the move-in day.
• Agreeing on the bond amount, which is normally four weeks’ rent.
• Taking meter readings together in order to avoid possible future disputes.
• Ensuring their contact details are up-to-date, as well as exchanging emergency contact numbers.
• Keeping detailed records of anything relating to the rental property. One of the best reminders/tips for new landlords is that they are required to save copies of documentation for twelve months after the end of a tenancy.

FAQ

We’ve gathered first time renters’ most common questions. You can read our expert answers to them below. Also, watch this amazing video:

How to move out for the first time?

The first thing you have to do before moving out of your family home is to get your finances in order. If you have a steady income or enough savings, you will be ready to start looking for a suitable place to live. At this point, you will probably have many first time renter questions, so make sure to do a lot of research before renting a house.

How much does it cost to move out for the first time?

There is no one right answer to how much it costs to move out for the first time. Ideally, you want to have a decent amount of savings before you take this big step.

Saving three to four months’ living costs is a good starting point for those considering moving into their first rental home. Even if you have a steady income, you must be prepared for unexpected expenses associated with living on your own and taking care of a property. Depending on where you live, a three-month safety net could range anywhere from $3,000 to over $5,000.

Other than rent, you will have to factor in paying for utilities, food, transport and recreation. When renting your first house, you will also likely find that you need to put aside an amount for unpredictable costs that may arise from being responsible for the daily maintenance of a property.

What do I need to rent a house for the first time?

After you have set the budget for renting your first house, you will need to consider its location. Go through your “new tenant checklist” and find out about the area’s access to transport, amenities, safety, future developments and consider whether it suits your lifestyle.

When you find an advert for a property you are interested in, you will be able to fill out a rental application and you will be asked for some documentation, such as your ID and references.

What to do first when moving into a new home?

While your first instinct when you step into your rental home if you’re new to renting may be to celebrate, the first thing you should actually do is make sure that the utilities are set up and, if not, connect them.

Do a quick walkthrough to ensure everything is as it was during the inventory check with your landlord. If you have a child or pet, your next step should be to ensure that the property is child- and/or pet-proof.

 

What to bring to someone’s house for the first time?

If it’s the first time you’re visiting someone’s home, it is a nice, customary gesture to bring a small gift. This will be especially meaningful to someone who is renting a house for the first time. Your gift does not have to be expensive and, ideally, it should be something that contributes to their new home. Some ideas of gifts that are always appreciated include:

• tea towels
• wine glasses
• candles
• vases
• potted plants

When do you pay first month rent?

Normally, you pay each month’s rent in advance, at the beginning of that month. A landlord can ask for 1 or 2 weeks’ rent in advance depending on whether the tenant will pay rent weekly or fortnightly.

What does first and last month’s rent mean?

First month’s rent refers to paying rent for the first month of your tenancy in advance, a practice meant as a security measure. Similarly, last month’s rent refers to the payment of one month’s rent, intended to cover the end of the lease.

Enjoy your first home!

Renting for the first time can be stressful for both renters and landlords. There is a lot to know so as to ensure you make the best decisions.

To adequately prepare for renting a home for the first time, whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you need to know what your rights and responsibilities are. To ensure a smooth tenancy, before moving into a new property, make sure you have downloaded our full-proof checklist to help you navigate the first time rental experience.

If you have any questions or need some guidance during this process, contact CGPM. CGPM care for your needs and are guaranteed to find you the exact property you are looking for and provide you with all the help you need when renting out a house for the first time.