[ScotsJon]

Last week my wife and I decided it was time to start looking seriously into house rental. We are both employed (125k + income), legal and in good jobs.

We budgeted about $550 a week in Titirangi area, which can get you a cracking 5 bedroom with decks and views and if lucky a pool. So you would think no problem eh ?

Oh no, not in NZ, first of all, rental agents (good and bad) invite you to an open home to view the property. They then give you a simple, badly copied generic form to fill in and return. They will then "let you know".

OH fell in love with one earlier today, and I offered the agent a years rent up front just to try and secure the deal - but NOPE, all interested parties have to follow procedure - what procedure ? having lived in the UK and US when you wanted to rent out a property all you did was see the agent, prove you could afford it, supply references and a credt check and it was a done deal.

So be warned if you are coming out here to rent, it could take you weeks to get it sorted out and you may not get the property that you want, even if you can tick all the correct boxes.