September's Monthly Rental Market Update
Rental market records busiest month since March
More renters got back into the market in September, lifting activity to its highest level since March.
Barfoot & Thompson, which manages over 22,000 homes in Auckland, Northland and the Bay of Plenty, recorded increased activity across every measure in September, with enquiries, viewings and applications all reaching six-month highs.
General Manager Property Management Anil Anna says the figures represent a notable lift compared with August, when enquiries, viewings and applications were down across the board.
“In September, enquiries about available properties were up 25.4% month-on-month to 27,796, and completed applications increased by 25.7% to 3,533,” he says, “However both remained below the more than 32,000 enquiries and 4,000 plus applications seen during the earlier months of the year.”
A total of 719 properties were let in September, up 22.3% on August and just ahead of the previous 2026 high of 716 in March.
Viewing activity was particularly strong. “Our teams were very busy on the ground in September, working to connect renters with their ideal property and fill vacancies as swiftly as possible. They hosted a record-setting 6,068 property viewings during September, up 26.2% on August and more than any single month in at least five years.”
Anil says feedback from property managers suggests much of the increased interest is from people moving from one rental to another.
“For many, it’s about getting settled into a new home that better suits their needs ahead of the summer break, so they have a bit more time to look around and consider their options.”
The increased activity was not reflected in any significant movement in rents. “While the number of properties available for rent are down 4.2% from August, and 10.1% on September last year, there is still enough rental supply to dampen any upward pressure on pricing and keep competition high between listings.”
He says the agency is continuing to advise landlords to price competitively and plan for periods of between six to seven weeks to commence a new tenancy.
In Auckland, the average weekly rent increased by just 40 cents since August, and rose 0.9% year-on-year to $699.40. By area in Auckland, rents rose most in Rodney and the North Shore, up 1.7% and 1.6% respectively, while West Auckland recorded the largest decline, down -0.6%.
Across Northland, the average weekly rent edged up just 0.2% in September and 1.75% year-on-year to $585.31. Rents rose more in the Bay of Plenty where, in Cherrywood for example, a three-bedroom home averaged $657.20 per week in September, up 3.7% year-on-year.
Barfoot & Thompson’s Property Management division operates in company branches across Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty. It is New Zealand’s largest private residential property management company, managing 22,000+ rental properties and employing more than 300 property managers and support staff.
In Auckland, it manages around 20,500 properties at any one time. Three-bedroom properties represent over a third of this portfolio, followed by two-bedroom properties at just over a quarter. Across Auckland, it manages the most properties in West Auckland (>2,500), followed closely by South Auckland, North Shore and the Eastern city fringe suburbs. The division’s data from Central Auckland is made up of almost entirely apartments.
In January 2026, the agency was recognised as the Best International Lettings/Rentals Agency at the 2025-26 International Property and Hotel Awards.
Rental Activity*
| September 2026 | August 2026 | Previous 3-month average | September 2025 |
| Average weekly rent – Auckland $699.40 |
$699.00 -- |
$698.73 -- |
$693.32 +0.9% |
| Properties rented – All 719 |
588 +22.3% |
612 +17.5% |
593 +21.2% |
| Month end properties available – All 746 |
779 -4.2% |
776 -3.9% |
830 -10.1% |
| Enquiries – All 27,796 |
22,165 +25.4% |
24,012 +15.8% |
22,239 +25.0% |
| Viewings – All 6,068 |
4,807 +26.2% |
5,020 +20.9% |
4,537 +33.7% |
| Shown through – All 9,783 |
7,669 +27.6% |
8,280 +18.2% |
7,724 +26.7% |
| Applications – All 3,533 |
2,810 +25.7% |
3,078 +14.8% |
2,951 +19.7% |
* Glossary of terms: Average weekly rent is specific to properties in the Auckland region. All other figures are from Barfoot & Thompson's total portfolio. Properties rented includes any property let during the month including new properties and new tenancies at already managed properties. Month end properties available is the number of properties listed for rent at the end of the calendar month. Enquiries is the total number of enquiries via the Barfoot & Thompson website, third-party sites, phone calls and emails. Viewings is the total number of open and by appointment viewings hosted at listed properties during the month. Shown through is the number of individuals or groups registered to attend any viewing. Applications are complete applications received to rent a listed property.
Released on behalf of Barfoot & Thompson by Network Communication: Megan Green, 027 221 7126, megan.green@networkcommunication.co.nz
Barfoot & Thompson is New Zealand's largest private residential property management company, managing more than 22,000 properties.
For more information contact a property manager or to find out how much rent you can achieve, ask for a rental appraisal.
Not subscribed to our landlords' newsletter, the Property Management Insider? Sign up now