Wellington renters spoilt for choice with record January listings
Monday, 9 February 2026
Looking for a rental in Wellington? There are plenty to choose from.
Wellington has recorded its highest-ever number of rental properties available, giving students and other renters unprecedented choice at the start of the academic year.
A total of 965 properties were listed for rent in the capital in January, up 54.2% compared with the same month last year, according to new data from realestate.co.nz.
The surge is an annual event as students head to Wellington ahead of the university year, with the city offering far greater choice than other student centres around the country.
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A search of Trade Me Properties rental listings showed nearly 1300 rentals available between $200 for a room to $2000 a month. That included listing in Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast.
Realestate.co.nz’s Vanessa Williams said the figures highlighted how sharply rental conditions varied by location.
“For students heading back to campus, where you study has a big impact on your rental experience,” Williams said.
“Wellington renters are spoilt for choice this year, while those moving to Otago will need to be organised and act quickly in a far more competitive market.”
The increase in listings has also coincided with falling rents in the capital.
Average weekly rents in Wellington dropped 8.9% year-on-year to $659 a week in January, although prices remain above the national average of $634.
By contrast, Auckland rents also remained above the national average at $686 a week, down 1.8% from January last year.
Other student regions had very different conditions. Otago recorded just 139 new rental listings in January, down 32.9% compared with a year earlier, while Canterbury saw 892 new listings, up 16.9% year-on-year.
Otago’s average weekly rent fell 4.1% to $519, Waikato rents were largely flat at $556, and Canterbury was the only university region to record an increase, with rents up 1.2% to $584 a week.
Williams said the falls in rents in some regions suggested landlords were becoming more competitive where supply had increased.
“More choice gives renters leverage, but in markets where supply hasn’t lifted, prices remain resilient,” she said.
Nationally, rental stock rose 9.8% in January to 7,830 properties, up from 7,129 a year earlier. The biggest year-on-year increases were recorded in Hawke’s Bay up 115.8% compared to January 2025 to 123 properties, Wairarapa up 97.3% year-on-year to 73 properties while Gisborne recorded the third highest year-on-year increase in stock levels in January 2026, up 56.4% year-on-year to 61 properties.
Williams says the lift in rental stock nationally is an encouraging sign of activity in the market.
“Overall, this is a rental market offering very different experiences depending on where renters are studying or relocating.”
She said for those who had flexibility around location, there were real opportunities emerging, but in tighter markets, preparation and speed remained key.
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