Students as Tenants

The main objection to letting to studetns has been the general practice of vacating flats permanently after finals. These created letting problems for landlords whose flats were vacated. Understandably a landlord preferred to let to a tenant who would stay permanently rather than risk having his flat vacant for up to three months or let at a reduced rental over the period.

The fierce competition for flats in the Kelburn Central City area at the beginning of the year is encouraging studetns who are reasonably happy with their flats to retain them for the following year. The number of students looking for flats after finals is also increasing.

The Accommodation Service assists students who wish to retain their flats over the summer vacation, to sublet. The Service is able to do this by offering to assist students from other universities coming to Wellington for the vacation, to find places in flats. Students wanting to sublet should contact the Service without delay as students planning to work in Wellington are usually anxious to finalise their accommodation as soon as possible.

Offers of assistance in housing students next year will depend largely on the willingness of landlords who have housed students this year to do so again next year. It is important that students take care to maintain good relationships with their landlords.

Studetns vacating flats in Kelburn permanently after finals can assist in retaining accommodation for other students by. 1) leaving their flat in a reasonable condition, 2) advising the Accomodation Officer, 3) letting the landlord know about the University Accommodation Service.