Market Comment - October 2025

Christchurch Market Holding Strong – With Changes Ahead

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a noticeable shift across the New Zealand rental market. Nationally, rents have been softening, with demand easing and new supply coming onstream in many regions. It’s a clear sign that after years of sharp increases, the pace of growth is slowing and tenants are finding themselves with more options than they had just 12–18 months ago.

However, here in Christchurch, the story is looking a little different. While the national market is cooling, our city continues to hold its ground and, in some cases, outperform other centers.

Why Christchurch is holding steady

There are a few key factors helping the Christchurch market buck the national trend:

• Relative affordability: Christchurch rents remain significantly more affordable compared to Auckland and Wellington. This makes our city attractive for tenants relocating from higher-cost regions.

• Strong population growth: Steady migration and people returning to Christchurch continue to drive demand for well-presented homes.

• Balanced development: While new townhouses have been built in large numbers, they’ve been met with consistent tenant demand, keeping occupancy levels high.

  
  

What this means for landlords

For property owners, this is good news. While rents may not be climbing at the rapid pace seen previously, Christchurch properties are still performing solidly compared to the national average. Vacancy periods remain shorter here than in many other centres, and well-maintained homes are still attracting quality tenants quickly.

Looking ahead

The national rental market is clearly entering a new phase—one of slower growth and greater tenant choice. But Christchurch’s fundamentals remain strong, and we expect the city to continue weathering this period of adjustment better than most.

The key takeaway

For landlords, the focus remains the same: presentation and pricing are more important than ever. Homes that are well looked after, marketed effectively, and priced in line with the market will continue to secure reliable tenants. And with the upcoming pet regulations, having a property manager who is on top of the details will be crucial to staying ahead.

Upcoming changes: Pet rental regulations

One important development on the horizon is the introduction of new regulations around pets in rental properties, due later this year. These changes are set to shift the way landlords and tenants approach pet ownership in rentals, giving tenants more certainty while also setting clear expectations for landlords.

At Rentworks, we’re preparing for this change now. Our team is attending dedicated industry seminars to ensure we’re across every detail of the new requirements as soon as they come into effect. This means our landlords can be confident their properties will remain compliant, and that we’ll be ready to guide them through what these changes mean in practice.

At Rentworks, we’re here to make sure your investment performs—both in the current market and under the new rules coming later this year. If you’d like tailored advice on how your rental is tracking, get in touch with our team today.