Market Comment - March 2026

Christchurch Rental Market

As we move into autumn, the Christchurch rental market remains steady, with consistent tenant demand across most suburbs. While tenants have slightly more choice than we saw over the past couple of years, well-presented homes priced appropriately for the market are still attracting good enquiry and securing quality tenants.

At the time of writing there are around 999 rental properties advertised on Trade Me across Christchurch, giving tenants a reasonable range of options. In this environment, presentation and realistic pricing become particularly important in ensuring properties stand out and secure quality tenants quickly.

Rental Levels

As we mentioned in last month’s update, this means rent increases are likely to remain modest in the short term, particularly where several comparable properties are available. Homes that are well presented and priced appropriately continue to perform well, while properties that push beyond current market levels can take longer to secure the right tenant.

Rentworks Portfolio Update

As Rentworks approaches 500 managed properties across Christchurch, we continue to see encouraging stability across our portfolio. Vacancy remains below 1%, and over 99% of rent continues to be received as expected, both strong indicators of a healthy and well-managed rental environment.

Looking Ahead

While some national commentary suggests landlords in parts of the country are finding it slightly harder to secure tenants, locally we continue to see consistent tenant demand, particularly for well-maintained family homes in good locations.

For landlords, the key takeaway remains the same: presentation, realistic pricing, and proactive management are the best ways to minimise vacancy and maintain reliable rental income.

As always, if you have any questions about your property or the Christchurch rental market, feel free to get in touch. And if you know someone who might benefit from good property management, we’d be happy to help.