Student tenants have paid thousands of dollars over summer for empty flats and apartments in a bid to secure their accommodation for 2017 as Auckland faces a growing rental shortage.
Occupancy levels reached a record high at Ray White's city branch with tenants continuing to pay rent when they returned home for holidays rather than lose their accommodation.
"A year ago students would end their tenancy in November, go home for the summer and return in February to rent another apartment," Delanie Horrobin of Ray White said.
"Now they are staying on because they are concerned they won't have somewhere to return to."