16 JUN 2025

Rental property guide for energy and broadband

Looking for your next rental property? Make sure it isn’t about to blow up your power bill.

It can be a mission to get everything sorted before moving into a new place. But don’t stress, we are here to help. Whether you’re flatting for the first time, moving in with your partner, or finding space for your whānau, there are a few key things worth knowing to make sure you avoid any surprises to your power bill.

Time to break in your new pad

Check out what’s at the property to help you get to know the place. Here are some things to test or ask about if you can:

Lighting

Having the right type of lighting in your future home can lead to long term savings. You’ll want to check for LED bulbs as they use up to 85% less electricity and can last up to 15 times longer. LEDs are a more efficient and longer lasting option for your home that should save you money in the long run.

Washing machine and dryer 

To save on energy, start with the stars. The higher the energy star rating the more efficient the appliance. Front-loader washing machines typically use less water and energy than top-loaders and choosing a shorter wash cycle or cooler water temperature can help you save even more.

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Water pressure and heating

Water heating is one of the biggest energy expenses for households. In New Zealand it typically accounts for 25-30% of the average household electricity bill. Here’s some handy tips to ensure you make the most of your water heating:

• Switch to a cold wash as often as possible – hot washes cost 25c more and use up to 10 times more electricity than cold washes.
• Shower > bath – showers use much less water and energy, costing half as much as baths.
• Time your showers – showering for 5 minutes instead of 15 minutes can save you around 66c per shower. Imagine the savings across the week for the whole household!
• Pack the dishwasher to the brim - use the eco setting (if your dishwasher has one) on a full dishwasher or washing machine load.

Top tip: Always turn on the tap and showers when checking out a new place. If the pressure decent? Does the hot water kick in fast? You don’t want to find out on your first Monday before work the shower runs at barely a trickle. 

Heating and cooling - work smarter not harder

Heating is a big winter cost. Knowing how to use your heating is key to keep everyone warm and healthy and help keep bills in check too.

Tips for staying warm:

• Cranking the heat pump up to 30 degrees won’t warm your house faster, it just uses more power. Keep it set between 18-22 degrees for a comfortable and energy efficient temperature.
• Use a timer to heat only when needed.
• Maintain your heaters by cleaning out the filters around four times a year using a guide to cleaning your heat pump.
• Hold onto your heat – seal up your windows, doors, and curtains.

Tips for keeping cool:

• Close curtains and blinds to keep the sun out but open doors and windows to let air flow through the house – it's a process.
• Fans are your biggest fan! Ceiling or stand fans use a lot less electricity than AC or you could try out the fan setting on your AC unit.
• If using AC, shut your doors and windows to trap the cool air.
  
  

Rental Costs and Responsibilities 

Set up your utilities

Most landlords require you to handle your utilities before moving in – head to our handy energy switchers guide for step-by-step sign-up instructions or make the switch yourself to get electricity and broadband all in one spot.

Choosing a plan

Our Good Plans offer free or discounted power during specific times of the day (Fair Use policy may apply). Check if one of these plans is right for your home by considering when and how you use your power:

• Good Nights (three free hours of power from 9-12pm Monday to Friday)
  Turn on or set timers for your dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, heaters, and electric blankets to boot up at 9pm and turn off at midnight to maximise this free period of power.
• Good Weekends (free power from 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday)
  Delay those dishwasher and laundry loads to the weekend. You can also bake up a storm, get your weekly meal prep done, or fire up those power tools to make the most of your free power periods. 
• Good Charge (half price power from 9pm-7am everyday)
  Schedule your electric car to start charging at 9pm and delay those appliances to start after 9pm. Meanwhile, stay cozy by setting your heating to a comfortable temperature overnight. 

If you’re wanting to keep it easy, our Basic plan has simple rates and no free power periods to think about.

Healthy Homes

Ask for the Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance to know how healthy the property is for the five standards: insulation, heating, ventilation, draft stopping, moisture ingress and drainage. This will help you understand how comfortable and liveable a home will be. 

With a bit of prep, a solid checklist, and some decisions around which plan is best, you can rest easier knowing your power bills should also settle in at your new place.