A lifestyle or rural property refers to large land holdings—think acres of bush, pasture, or scrub—that offer a quiet, nature-filled lifestyle. In the Kōwhai Coast area, these blocks often combine grazing, pasture and/or native bush, with some bordering tidal rivers like the Pūhoi and Mahurangi rivers.
Lifestyle and rural properties appeal to many people for different reasons. Some want space for animals, others prefer a slower pace of life with nature, while some enjoy gardening or growing vineyards. Many are also drawn to the peace and distance from city life, with the added benefit of being under an hour from Auckland CBD and having access to nearby services in Warkworth.
These properties can be occupied by owner occupiers or rented to tenants. While it may seem more common for owners to live on large blocks, many landlords opt to rent them out, especially if a tenant can help with maintenance or holding costs. While a rural rental doesn’t generate as much cashflow as a city apartment block, having a tenant can still be financially beneficial.
All properties deserve amazing care and service however rural properties can require a different tact compared to urban rentals.
Preparation for market includes ensuring compliance with regulations and assessing whether the large grounds need adjustments to reduce ongoing maintenance costs. After that, landlords must carefully match the property with the right tenant, as rural living can be very different from city life. For example, someone moving from a city apartment to a 50-acre bush block might struggle with the isolation, while another applicant for the same property already living on a similar property in Snells beach may better understand the quirks of rural life.
Each rural property has unique features—water systems, septic tanks, fencing, and even neighboring animals. The list goes on and on—that need to be clearly communicated to tenants. Tenants should also be aware of any grazing or pet obligations, protected wildlife (think Kiwis at Mt Tamahunga), or specific care requirements for animals on the property.
When the right tenant is matched with the right property, long-term, stable tenancies are possible, benefiting both the tenant and the landlord.
With experience as both an owner and tenant on rural lifestyle blocks, I can offer valuable advice to landlords in North Rodney. Feel free to reach out at 0221009263 or [email protected] as I’d love to help guide you on how to best start on the rural/lifestyle rental journey (even just to have a nosey round another block is worth it for me!)