Buying guide
Buying a New Zealand villa? Everything you need to know
Own a part of our country’s architectural history
Last updated: 10 July 2024
The New Zealand villa is one of the most beautiful architectural styles in the country. These historic homes are built with a handcrafted artistry that’s near impossible to replicate in modern properties.
That said, villas are not without their quirks. Like any old home, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of before you purchase one.
What is an NZ Villa?
In Britain houses were named according to their style and size and that trend followed the English to New Zealand in the 1800s. Here the simple, smaller homes were called cottages and the larger, more expensive properties were known as ‘villas’.
Single and double story villa style homes in NZ were built in the Victorian style from the mid 1800s. They were often constructed entirely from native timber such as kauri, rimu and mataī, and usually featured handcrafted features including pressed tin ceilings and stained glass windows. They also typically had small windows, verandahs, high ceilings, wide hallways and bay windows.
Bungalows VS Villas NZ
Villas are often confused with a similar style of home – the bungalow. These appeared after the first war in the early-mid 1900s and were built in a Californian style.
Compared with villas, bungalows typically have lower ceilings, larger windows and less ornamentation. In other words, they look a bit like villas - just less fancy.
What to check when buying a villa
Villas are often over a century old and always built with untreated timber. Because of their age and building materials, it’s important to thoroughly inspect them before you buy.
Checkhome, a national building inspection company, recommends looking at:
Foundations and piles: check these for surface water, borer, rot and signs of cracks or shifting.
Cladding and windows: the waterproofing on villa windows often fails. The timber cladding, paint and functioning of the windows should also be checked.
Plumbing and wiring: because of the age of villas, their plumbing and wiring is often damaged or faulty. Old plumbing can cause leaks, which can cause excess ground moisture and damage the home’s foundations. Faulty wiring can be a fire risk, and a problem for insurance.
Interior: The flooring should be checked for borer and the walls checked for scrim and sarking. Scrim is an extremely flammable hessian sack-type material that was used as a wall lining and can be a problem for insurance.
Roofing: nails, seals and other roof components can start to rust and fail over the years. These should be thoroughly checked.
While you may be able to inspect a villa yourself, it’s always best to hire a professional building inspector. If you suspect there are problems with the plumbing, it’s also worth hiring a plumber and electrician to thoroughly check the pipes and electrical systems in the home before you buy.
Read more about choosing a building inspector here.
Villas are common in some of New Zealand's most affluent suburbs.
Should I buy a Victorian villa in NZ?
Before you buy, you should be well aware of their downsides and prepared for extra costs. Unrenovated villas may need tens of thousands of dollars worth of work (or more) to get them into a safe, liveable condition. They’re often uninsulated and can be leaky. Their layouts are also often unsuited to modern living. Their lounges typically face the street, so they may not get much sun, and the kitchen and lounge are often separate. Changing the layout of a villa can be extremely expensive.
With all that said, few properties in New Zealand are as carefully crafted or lovingly built as stately old villa. If you take care when you buy, and are prepared to accept the cost of repairing and renovating, a villa can be a wonderful home or investment.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is general in nature. While facts have been checked, the article does not constitute an advice service. The article is only intended to provide education about New Zealand villas. Nothing in this article constitutes a recommendation that any home is suitable for any specific person. We cannot assess anything about your personal circumstances, your finances, or your goals and objectives, all of which are unique to you. Before making decisions about property, we highly recommend you seek professional advice.
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