Dr Malini Yugendran
Auckland, March 1, 2023
Amiertha Ulaganathan, a foreign student from Malaysia pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at The University of Auckland, shares her experience of struggling to find accommodation in Auckland and offers advice to others in similar situations.
Background
“I have always dreamt of studying here and was elated when I got an offer. I arrived on 9th February 2023 and almost immediately started facing accommodation challenges,” said Ms Ulaganathan.
She added, “I had tried booking accommodation through my university prior to arriving but was put on the waitlist.” Ms Ulaganathan then searched for other options nearby the university, but most required an on-site viewing, which was not possible before her arrival in New Zealand.
Her budget for accommodation was between $280 to $400 per week. She primarily sourced accommodations from online websites like Trade Me, One Roof, Barfoot & Thompson, and Ray White.
Ms Ulaganathan was looking for a studio or one-bedroom apartment with a bathroom. She wanted an apartment that was not too far from the university and had easy access to public transportation.
Ms Ulaganathan explained, “Although I am open to sharing an apartment with a flatmate, however, since I am new to the country, I am not completely comfortable with the idea of living with someone I do not know yet. Instead, I plan to make friends in university first and then find one or two friends whom I can split the rent costs with and get a shared apartment by next year or so.”
Experience
Ms Ulaganathan said, “When I started looking for accommodations upon my arrival, it was surprising for me to witness groups of people competing for the same apartment during a viewing. This is something that we do not experience back home. And I needed to provide references and documentation which we do not practice in Malaysia except provide an id and arrange for automatic payments.”
She finally managed to secure an apartment on 28 February 2023. While waiting for her permanent accommodation to be sorted out, Ms Ulaganathan had been staying in various hotels and Airbnb accommodations.
Ms Ulaganathan said, “Although my university’s accommodation services had been helpful in explaining the situation and showing me the status of my application, I wish they could have been more prompt in their responses and provided suggestions for other nearby accommodation options.”
Ms Ulaganathan advises fellow foreign students to research and plan their accommodations before arriving in New Zealand, as it can be a hassle without a place upon arrival, especially with the high demand for rental listings and rapidly filled-up hotels and Airbnb. She suggests researching the budget, suitable and safe areas nearby the school, proximity to transportation facilities, and preparing necessary soft copy documents for the tenancy agreement.
Ms Ulaganathan said, “If you want housing options provided or arranged by your university, such as dormitories, on-campus apartments or off-campus properties managed by the university, then be fast in terms of booking/applying for a place at least three months before the next semester starts.”
Students should also gather useful reference contacts from their previous landlords or employers who can give supporting statements and character feedback that will support their rental application in New Zealand.
Here are some resources that foreign students can use to find accommodation in New Zealand:
Student Accommodation Services: Most universities in New Zealand have a student accommodation service that can assist with finding suitable accommodation. Check your university’s website for more information.
Trade Me: Trade Me is New Zealand’s largest online marketplace, and it has a dedicated section for rental properties. You can search for properties by location, price, and other features.
OneRoof: OneRoof is a property website that allows you to search for rental properties across New Zealand. You can also sign up for alerts to be notified when new properties become available.
Flatmates Wanted: Flatmates Wanted is a website that connects people looking for flatmates with those offering a spare room in their homes.
Facebook Groups: Many local communities have Facebook groups dedicated to rental accommodation. Search for groups related to the area you are interested in and join them to stay up to date on available properties.
Hostels: Hostels can be a great option for temporary accommodation while you search for a more permanent place to live. Hostelworld is a popular website that lists hostels across New Zealand.
Airbnb: Airbnb is a popular option for short-term accommodation, and it can be a good way to get to know a new city before committing to a longer rental agreement.
Dr Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
