Get to know myRent with a quick overview video:

Changes to open homes and viewings during COVID-19 (Level 4)

Anna
22 March 2020

Photo by David McBee from Pexels

Due to the spread of COVID-19 and the new lockdown laws, new restrictions now apply to NZ rental market.

More details have now become available as the Government passes COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Amendment Act.

Rental Viewings

There will be no individual viewings or open homes. These will be considered non-essential as you will not be able to interact face-to-face with people outside of your self-isolation group.

Virtual tours, pre-recorded videos and photos can replace face-to-face viewings.

Work and Income will still handle tenants in need of emergency accommodation.

Moving house during the lockdown

There are a lot of questions from both landlords and tenants around this topic. Unfortunately, moving house would be deemed as 'non-essential travel' during the four-week lockdown period. To handle this, all the parties involved need to make necessary amendments to their agreements, extend their existing contracts and delay moving into their new homes until the Alert 4 restrictions are lifted.

These precautions are in place to protect your health, your applicants, tenants and the wider public with respect to Covid-19.

In December 2021 NZ moved away from the alert level system to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). Follow this link to the summary of real estate activities permitted under various traffic light settings

Back to resources
What the community has to say
  • KP
    Kim

    Any idea if we have to let Chorus into an apartment building. Someone is moving in today and wants a connection.

  • ND
    Nathan

    I have a vacant property that I was in the middle of looking for tenants for. I am now considering selling it if possible. Are people allowed to view the house themselves. Like if the property was not attended by the agent or myself just them?

  • AS
    Anna

    @Nathan there is not enough information available yet. But travelling to view the property is likely to be considered non-essential travel. You're best to pre-record some quality videos today if possible and rely on technology to show people through. Saying it, the buyer would be unlikely to move into the property until the lockdown period is over.

  • DS
    Dorothy

    @Kim. Chorus will be working through the L4 lockdown as they have been classified as essential services.

  • PJ
    Paula and Martin

    Are you doing an article on how we can handle the situation if you (myrent) are doing the rent collections, but the tenant has asked for a rent reduction?

  • AS
    Anna

    @Paula and Martin, we will provide more articles on how to make changes on your account. But please contact us on hello@myrent.co.nz to discuss your specific situation

  • GF
    Glenn and Cassandra

    Our tentants are moving on on weekend all paperwork done there won’t be any contact with anyone else but themselves is that ok?

  • AS
    Anna

    @Glenn and Cassandra, Bindi Norwell from REINZ did say that it was her understanding that moving house would be deemed as ‘non-essential travel’ during the four-week lockdown period.
    However, as soon as there is further clarification on this from the government, we’ll be able to update our users with more on this situation. 

  • OJ
    Ottavia

    Thanks MyRent for posting information.

  • Our services

    shop-sign

    Advertise your rental
    from $50

    Includes a listing on Trade Me, realestate.co.nz, OneRoof, trovit.co.nz, and Homes.co.nz.

    Learn more

    Tenant checks
    for $35

    Rent with confidence and make informed decisions with comprehensive tenant checks.

    Learn more

    Self-management platform from $17/month

    Save time and money. Rest easy with our self-management platform. Start with a free trial.

    Learn more
    video-player-movie

    Get to know how myRent works

    Not quite ready to sign up?

    Subscribe to our weekly newsletter read by 30,000+ landlords. Get updates on important tenancy law changes, tips on maximising rental returns, and more great resources.