Student accommodation in Wellington runs from Victoria University’s halls of residence, priced at $8,018 to $23,712 a year in 2026, to Massey University’s self-catered Cube apartments at $14,196 for the 2027 year, to private flats. The first-round application deadline for Victoria’s halls was 1 October 2026, but offers continue to later applicants until February 2027. This guide sets out the published figures and what I could not confirm.
Details come from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s accommodation pages and its Vic Uni Accommodation 2027 guide, Massey University’s Wellington accommodation page, Tenancy Services and Community Law, checked on 31 October 2026. Amounts are in New Zealand dollars as the universities publish them. Victoria’s guide says its fees are 2026 figures that may change for 2027, so confirm them before you pay.
Victoria University of Wellington halls and flats
Victoria says all its first-year halls are an easy walk to campus and close to the city. Its halls page lists Capital Hall, Cumberland House, Education House, Everton Hall, Joan Stevens Hall, Katharine Jermyn Hall, Kelburn Flats, Te Puni Village, Victoria House, Waiteata Apartments, Whānau Mārama Apartments, Weir House and 222 Willis Apartments. It also says Boulcott Hall will not be available as student accommodation from 2027.
First-year halls (2026 fees)
| Hall | Weekly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Hall | $568 | $22,152 |
| Cumberland House | $404 to $550 | $15,756 to $21,450 |
| Joan Stevens Hall | $484 | $18,876 |
| Katharine Jermyn Hall | $572 | $22,308 |
| Te Puni Village | $578 to $608 | $22,542 to $23,712 |
| Victoria House | $400 to $572 | $15,600 to $22,308 |
| Weir House | $416 to $572 | $16,224 to $22,308 |
The guide says university-operated halls charge for 39 weeks. Victoria House is partner-operated and may charge for a different period. The ranges within each hall depend on the room type.
Independent-living halls and flats (2026 fees)
| Hall | Weekly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Education House | $409 | $15,542 |
| Everton Hall | $263 to $431 | $9,994 to $16,378 |
| Kelburn Flats, Whare Hīnau | $263 to $335 | $9,994 to $12,730 |
| Pasifika Housing | $211 to $263 | $8,018 to $9,994 |
| Whānau Housing | $211 to $263 | $8,018 to $9,994 |
| Waiteata Apartments | $351 | $13,338 |
| Whānau Mārama Apartments | $397 to $447 | $15,086 to $16,986 |
| 222 Willis Apartments | $325 to $341 | $12,350 to $12,958 |
- Contract length: independent-living contracts are 38 weeks. Electricity and internet cost an extra $15 a week for most of them.
- Single-trimester contracts: these may attract a 10 per cent surcharge.
Application dates, deposit and payment
- Applications for 2027: opened on 1 August 2026, and the first-round deadline was 1 October 2026.
- Offers: the guide says offers go to late applicants and the application pool from October 2026 to February 2027. If you have no offer by mid-January 2027, it recommends looking at alternative accommodation.
- Move-in: 7 February 2027 for first-year halls and 14 February 2027 for independent-living halls.
- Deposit: typically around $1,000 when you accept an offer, made up of an activities fee, an administration fee and a bond. If you withdraw before the contract’s withdrawal date, the activities fee and bond are refunded. After that date, only the bond is.
- Leaving after you move in: a $500 contract-breaking charge applies, and you and any guarantor stay liable for fees until a suitable replacement moves in.
- Paying: fees are payable in advance, and university-operated halls charge monthly instalments, with the first due in late January.
Massey University’s Wellington campus
Massey’s Wellington accommodation page names one hall, The Cube, about five minutes’ walk from campus. All rooms are furnished and for single occupancy, and the page says couples and families cannot be accommodated.
| 2027 option | Beds | Full-year cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Cube Apartments (self-catered, ideal for 17 and over) | 210 | $14,196 |
| The Cube Studio Units (self-contained, ideal for 18 and over) | 18 | $18,690 |
- Included: bedroom furnishings, wifi, electricity and water, and Massey Wellington gym membership.
- Terms for 2027: full year from 14 February to 5 December (42 weeks), semester 1 from 14 February to 27 June, and semester 2 from 4 July to 5 December.
- Extras: a semester parking permit is $120, a bicycle shed $25 and laundry $3 a load.
- Paying: by full pre-payment, semester instalments, or weekly direct debit for domestic students only. The page gives no instalment amounts.
Renting privately: bond, rent in advance and fees
If you do not get a hall place, Victoria suggests private hostels or a room in an established flat. For private tenancies, Tenancy Services says a landlord can charge a general bond of at most 4 weeks’ rent, which is optional for the landlord and must be paid at the start of the tenancy. The landlord must lodge it with Tenancy Services, within 23 working days of receiving it if you paid it to them.
Community Law says a landlord can ask for two weeks’ rent in advance, and that letting fees and lawyers’ fees are among the charges a landlord is not allowed to pass on to you. At $500 a week, for example, a 4-week bond is $2,000 and two weeks’ rent in advance is $1,000. Victoria’s guide does not cover private-flat rules, so check them with Tenancy Services.
What to check before you book
- The contract length: halls charge for 38 to 42 weeks, not 52, so ask what you will pay for during the holidays.
- What is included: some independent-living halls charge extra for electricity and internet, while The Cube includes them.
- The first instalment: Victoria’s guide warns that some students do not receive StudyLink or scholarship payments in time, so plan how you will pay.
- Withdrawal and contract-breaking terms: read the dates and charges before you accept.
- A signed copy of any tenancy agreement: Tenancy Services advises reading it carefully and keeping a signed copy and any receipts.
I could not verify private rents in Wellington, the cost of living by suburb, transport times or neighbourhood rankings from official sources, so I have not stated them. I also could not confirm which Victoria halls are catered, because its halls page does not say, or Massey’s application deadlines. Never pay a deposit before you have a written agreement and proof that the property is genuine. Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide.
FAQs about student accommodation in Wellington
How much does student accommodation in Wellington cost?
Victoria’s 2026 hall fees run from $8,018 to $23,712 a year, depending on the hall and room, and Massey’s The Cube costs $14,196 to $18,690 for the 2027 year. Private rents vary, and I could not verify them.
Can I still apply for a Victoria University hall for 2027?
The first-round deadline was 1 October 2026, but Victoria’s guide says offers continue to late applicants until February 2027. Check the university’s accommodation pages for current availability.
How much bond can a landlord charge in New Zealand?
Tenancy Services says a general bond can be at most 4 weeks’ rent. It must be lodged with Tenancy Services.
Is Massey’s Wellington accommodation catered?
The Cube Apartments are described as self-catered, and the Studio Units as self-contained and self-catered.
Sources
- Victoria University of Wellington: halls of residence
- Victoria University of Wellington: Vic Uni Accommodation 2027 guide
- Massey University: Wellington accommodation overview
- Tenancy Services: charging a general bond
- Tenancy Services: bond lodgement explained
- Community Law: rent, bond and other costs
All checked 31 October 2026.
