Preparing Your Rental

A well-prepared rental gives prospective tenants a clear picture of the home and makes the start of a tenancy easier. Before advertising, work through the property, its paperwork and the practical arrangements for handing it over. Our Christchurch team can help you decide what needs attention before the home is offered for rent.

Start with the property and your plans

Tell your property manager when the home will be available, which chattels are included and whether any work is still planned. Explain any access restrictions, shared areas or body corporate rules. Check that every area offered as accommodation can lawfully be used for that purpose; a garage, sleepout or converted room should not be assumed to be approved living space.

Put repairs and safety ahead of presentation

• Check doors, windows, locks, handrails and obvious trip hazards.
• Arrange repairs for leaks, drainage problems, damaged fittings and faulty appliances before tenants move in.
• Check supplied heating, hot water and ventilation equipment and gather operating instructions.
• Check smoke alarms, their placement and expiry against the current requirements.
• If work may disturb older building materials, discuss appropriate professional checks before anyone starts.

Read Tenancy Services information for new landlords for the legal requirements. This preparation checklist does not replace a property-specific assessment.

Have Healthy Homes evidence ready

Check heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping. Keep the assessment information, measurements, invoices and other evidence behind the compliance statement. If an exemption is relied on, retain evidence for that specific exemption. Our Healthy Homes information explains what to organise and how to keep the records useful.

Present the home as it will be handed over

Clean the property, remove belongings that are not included, tidy outdoor areas and arrange rubbish removal. Check curtains, light fittings and supplied appliances. Advertising photographs and descriptions should reflect what the tenant will actually receive, including any limitations or shared facilities. Discuss worthwhile improvements before spending on cosmetic work that may not address the property’s main needs.

Organise the owner information

• Current contact details and an emergency contact.
• Insurance information and any relevant inspection conditions.
• Healthy Homes and smoke-alarm records, relevant consents and body corporate rules.
• An accurate chattel list, appliance instructions, keys and access devices.
• Agreed repair authority, communication arrangements and a written fee schedule.

Check your insurance cover with your insurer and allow for vacancy, maintenance and other ownership costs. A rental appraisal is an assessment based on the home and current evidence, rather than a promise of rent or a letting date.

Agree the handover before advertising

Confirm when work will be finished and the home available for viewings. Plan an initial condition record with photographs and a clear record of keys and chattels. Agree who will explain the home to the tenant and how repairs should be reported after move-in.

Request a rental appraisal, read our management process or call 03 386 0311 to discuss getting your rental ready.