Wellington Rental Vacancy: How Delays Impact Your Bottom Line
Let’s say your rental is priced at $670 per week. One vacant month means $2,680 in lost income, not to mention you will still be covering the mortgage, rates, insurance, and possibly some ongoing maintenance. Even a one-week delay eats into your return.
Often, it is smarter to accept a slightly lower offer and lock in a good tenant than to wait for the perfect price.
Rental Income Comparison: Lower Rent with No Vacancy vs Higher Rent with Delays
Imagine two scenarios:
- $640 per week with no vacancy equals $33,280 over 52 weeks
- $670 per week with a 4-week vacancy equals $670 × 48 = $32,160
That is a loss of $1,120 per year, even though the weekly rent is higher. And that is before you factor in holding costs like mortgage repayments or the power bill during viewings. The longer the vacancy, the more ground you lose.
Price Filters and Visibility: Why Rent Positioning Matters in Wellington
Most renters search for properties online using price filters, and these filters are typically set in $50 increments such as $600, $650, or $700. If your rental is listed at $660 per week, and a prospective tenant sets their maximum at $650, your property will not appear in their results, even if it would have been suitable. This filtering happens automatically, so even well-presented homes can be overlooked simply because of where they sit in a search band.
In a competitive rental market, missing out on search visibility can lead to fewer enquiries, longer time on market, and ultimately a lower annual return. At Oxygen, we help landlords price their properties strategically to ensure they are seen by more tenants, leading to faster leasing and stronger results.
Avoid Overpricing: What Wellington Renters See First
One of the most common reasons a listing gets overlooked is overpricing. Wellington tenants track the market closely. If your rent is even $30 too high, your property might get filtered out or simply ignored.
The Oxygen team reviews market activity each week to make sure your property is competitively priced based on real data, not guesswork.
Using 21-Day Notice Periods to Reduce Vacancy in Wellington
Tenants are required to give 21 days’ notice, which gives us the opportunity to advertise well before the property becomes vacant. That means viewings, enquiries, and applications often start weeks in advance.
As a result, while most Wellington homes are physically vacant for just one to two weeks, the advertising campaign has usually already been running for some time.
Our local property managers handle the leasing process directly, from pricing advice to tenant selection, and know how to get the job done efficiently.
Tenant Selection vs Speed: Why Screening Still Matters
Getting someone in quickly does not mean compromising on quality. A bad tenant can do more financial damage than a short vacancy ever could.
That is why Oxygen takes tenant screening seriously. We run detailed checks on every applicant, including rental history, credit, employment verification, and more, to ensure you are selecting a reliable tenant who will treat your property with care.
Maximising Rental Returns Through Smart Vacancy Management
An empty property drains more than just your income. It delays your long-term returns. Smart rent-setting, strong vetting, and early preparation are what keep your investment working for you.