Housing links

GOVERNMENT SITES / FREEPHONES

• Housing New Zealand Corporation
  Provides subsidised rental accommodation to those on low incomes. Freephone: 0800 739 717
  
  
• Land-online Survey and Title Office
  Database of land title and survey information - available on user-pays basis.
  
  
• Department of Building and Housing
  Comprehensive information on building regulations and controls.
  Freephone: 0800 242 243
  
  
  • Tenancy Services division provides free advice on all aspects of renting, mediates rental disputes, manages tenancy bonds and supplies standard rental forms. Local offices listed in The White Pages.
    Freephone: 0800 83 62 62 (0800 TENANCY)
    

REAL ESTATE AGENCIES

• Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
  An essential site - deals authoritatively with all aspects of property purchase and rental. Provides comprehensive national and regional property listings, as well as guidelines on matters such as mortgage rates. Up-to-date price surveys available on national, regional, city and neighbourhood levels. Freephone: 0800 732 536 (0800 REALENZ)
  
  
• Real Estate Guides
  Designed for migrants and overseas investors with special emphasis on Christchurch.
  
  
• Open2view
  National directory providing virtual tours of hundreds of properties.
  

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

• Harcourts
  
  
• RE/MAX Leaders
  
  
• LJ Hooker
  
  
• Professionals
  

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

• New Zealand Herald
  
  
• Property Stuff
  

GENERAL SITES

• Architects Education & Registration Board
  Maintains database of registered architects.
  
  
• Building Research Association of NZ Inc.
  Funds research to strengthen the building industry.
  
  
• New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors Inc.
  Represents professional building consultants - provides list of services and affiliated members. Freephone: 0800 11 34 00
  
  
• New Zealand Institute of Conveyancers Inc
  Outlines functions and services of licensed conveyancers.
  
  
• Insurance Council of New Zealand
  Provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of property and other insurance matters. Lists affiliated members.
  
  
• New Zealand Registered Master Builders Federation
  Lists certified master builders and useful information about building a home.
  Freephone: 0800 269 119
  
  
• Certified Builders Association of NZ
  Lists Registered Certified Builders and provides advice for home builders. Freephone: 0800 237 843
  
  
• New Zealand Institute of Architects
  Professional association of architects - lists affiliated architects.
  
  
• New Zealand Property Institute (NZPI)
  Sets standards for property valuers. Maintains database of affiliated valuers.
  
  
• Property Web
  Specialises in private sales.
  
  
• QV Valuations
  Responsible for the rating valuations in New Zealand. Freephone: 0800 787 284 (0800 QV RATING)
  
  
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
  
  
• ValGroup
  Association of independent valuing firms.
  
  
• Consumers Institute of New Zealand
  Up-to-date consumers' guide to property and rental purchase - also covers legal rights of landlords and tenants. Membership fee required.