Many locals choose to rent their house out over peak season, pocketing enough money to pay for a year of house insurance, rates and bills. It is often an indispensable source of second income for many families. However, many people are too busy throughout the year to plan ahead, the time to pack your bags and leave always comes too soon. 

Too late to join the Airbnb community? “You can go onto Airbnb at any time but it's a good idea to list at a few weeks in advance so you can make sure you get the right guests,” said Heather Kahl, spokesperson from Wānaka Holiday Homes Ltd. 

Financially, renting a house when you're away, is a very good move, but still it all depends on the house itself really. “If you have a modern well decorated home close to town centre, you could get anywhere from $600 to $1200 per night. This is also dependant on the number of guests you can accommodate — no more than two per bedroom — and the minimum number of nights you would be willing to rent it for. Our New Year's Eve rates range from $250 to $800 per night with a seven-night minimum,” explained Kahl. 

Kahl also warned: “I'm not a fan of raising our rents to exorbitant amounts over peak periods as it leaves our guests feeling a bit sour. It is better to have guests who are having a positive experience so they will come back again in the shoulder seasons.” 

When providing short-term visitor accommodation, council regulations need to be adhered to. “If you're planning to let to visitors for more than two nights, you will need to register your intention for Visitor Accommodation and this will apply to one let of no more than 28 nights. If you are planning to let visitors up to 90 nights per year with a minimum stay of three nights, you will need to register for free as a holiday home with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). Any more than this and you need to apply for resource consent,” said Kahl. 

QLDC has a simple questionnaire on their website to register. Once the regulatory duties are complete, cleaning and laundry are the next to conquer. If you are going to manage it personally, it's very important to ensure that guests understand the rules. Upsetting neighbours and not dealing with rubbish properly has become a real problem in Wānaka. 

“The best thing to do is get a property manager to look after the house on your behalf. If you are just planning to let for a couple of weeks over Christmas and New Year's Eve, ideally you can get a friend to look after your place. Most cleaning companies and property managers will already be fully booked with their long-term clients over this period,” said Kahl. 

Renting your home through a property manager or Airbnb, is not the only option. House sitting and house swapping can be very convenient for pet owners. House and pet sitting often requires an annual membership however people from all over the world who are interested in visiting Wānaka will look after your pets and home for free.  

It might be as financially attractive as renting out your house for $1000 per night, but pets are happier at home and for many people, this is more important. Pet sitters will keep your home and pets safe and secure — and even water the plants, with the condition of having a free place to enjoy their holidays. 

Another option would be HomeExchange, a different and more local approach to travel. Basically, it consists in swapping your home and car with someone else around the world, saving money and giving the opportunity to discover local cultures and to immerse yourself in the life of the other host.