Renters across the Nelson Tasman region are heading into 2026 with significantly more choice than this time last year, as new data reveals one of the largest increases in rental listings anywhere in New Zealand.

Figures from realestate.co.nz show that new rental listings in Nelson and Bays jumped 92.6% in December 2025, compared with December 2024. A total of 52 properties were listed during the month, up from just 27 a year earlier.

This surge was reflected in the overall availability of rental homes, with total rental stock in the region rising 88.5% year-on-year to 49 properties. Nelson and Bays ranked as one of the strongest-performing regions nationally for new rental supply, second only to Wairarapa.

According to Summit Property Management General Manager, Stew Henry, the increase has been driven by several factors.

“We’ve seen a higher number of tenants purchasing homes over summer, which means existing rental stock needs to be re-let,” says Henry.

“The properties new to the rental market are a mix of investors and people moving out of town who wish to retain ownership of their homes.”

Henry says Summit experienced a particularly strong end to the year, with a bumper letting month in December, signing 52 new tenancies across Nelson and Marlborough.

Nationally, realestate.co.nz data shows new rental listings rose 19.8% year-on-year in December to 5,349 properties, up from 4,464 in December 2024. The national average asking rent also declined, falling 2.4% year-on-year to $626 per week, with 13 of New Zealand’s 19 regions recording price decreases.

Realestate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams says the increase in listings is shifting the balance for renters.

“A nearly 20 percent increase in new listings certainly provides more choice for renters, and in some regions, that choice has doubled,” Williams says.

“With stock building and competition among landlords rising, renters will continue to find themselves in a stronger position to negotiate on price or lease terms in 2026.”

The data highlights a rental market entering 2026 in a very different position to previous years—particularly in regions like Nelson Tasman, where supply has rebounded strongly.

Source: Kate Russell, Top South Now
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