Auckland landlord charges more for flatmates who want to use the kitchen

A Remuera landlord is charging more for tenants who want to use the kitchen. Photo/Trademe

Looking for a place to flat in Auckland? There's one place up for grabs that might be just the thing - if you promise to never use the kitchen.

A landlord has listed her Remuera property on Trade me seeking a female tenant who doesn't need to cook anything while living there. If the tenant wants to be able to use the kitchen, they must pay a higher rent.

The five-bedroom, three-bathroom flat already has other tenants in it.

The listing offers a room and bathroom for $195, plus power. For a tenant who wants to be able to use the kitchen, the rent is $310 plus costs.

"I'm just quite clean, I don't want people to use my kitchen," said the landlord, who did not want to be named.

She said that was the only reason for the rule, and that it was just "personal preference".

She has had tenants sharing her property with her in the past who have not minded the no-cooking rule.

"They don't cook. A lot of people, they don't cook. They just eat out and come back home. It's their choice."

Tenants who decided to agree to the no-cook rule "fully understand" the deal before they rent the place.

She did not believe it was unfair, and said she'd had "lots of inquiries" from people who would suit such a lifestyle.

Tenants' Protection Association (Auckland) co-ordinator Angela Maynard said in situations where the landlord was living in a house and getting flatmates in, the Residential Tenancies Act did not apply.

Maynard said in such a situation if the landlord or a head tenant wanted to have flatmates in and make an agreement they couldn't use the kitchen, then there was nothing to stop them doing that.

She had not heard of any other incidences of tenancies being offered without the use of a kitchen.