Rents rise in Wairarapa region

Trade Me's Rental Price Index shows the asking price for median weekly rent in Wellington, which includes Wairarapa, was $325 in March this year - an increase on the $260 asked for in March 2014.

Renters are having to fork out more for a home as weekly rent prices climb, fresh statistics show.

Trade Me's Rental Price Index shows the asking price for median weekly rent in Wellington, which includes Wairarapa, was $325 in March this year - an increase on the $260 asked for in March 2014.

Professionals Patrick & Scott principal Andy Scott said there was "strong demand" for rental properties in Wairarapa.

"There is high demand for rental properties all over the Wairarapa region. The demand is because of people moving around within the region, moving to the region and due to a shortage of housing,"

While renting was not hard in Wairarapa, finding a good quality home often was due to high demand, Mr Scott said.

"Houses on the lower end tend to sit there and people are more choosy than they used to be, but a tidy three to four bedroom home is quite hard to get.

Nationwide, the median asking rent for properties in March 2015 increased by 7.7 per cent compared with March the previous year.

The median rent sought by landlords soared to a record high of $420 per week, up from $390 per week a year ago.

NZME.