Room without a view

A post onWellington online group Vic Deals is advertising a fourbedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Te Aro’s Marion St for $815 per week.

More than 500 people have commented on the listing, with one person saying the flat ‘‘sums up Wellington rentals’’.

Former resident Isaac Kirkwood, originally from Auckland, and his four Toi Whakaari classmates are moving out and are looking for a new group to take over the lease.

He has called the flat home for two years and has the only bedroom with a window that opens. The window can’t actually be closed though and Kirkwood conceded it did get a bit chilly in winter. The carpet is dirty and almost threadbare and the oven works only 90 per cent of the time.

While some of the rooms have curtains for doors, the washing machine does remain fully functional. Kirkwood said the state of the building was a trade-off for its $200 per person rent, and the fact it is within walking distance of town and the universities. He said the price had not increased in the time he lived there.

The bathroom windows were smashed when Kirkwood moved in and raised no eyebrows at the one flat inspection they had.

‘‘We were told a couple of times the owner did not want to put any more money into it. But it was not a major concern. It seemed to be part of the deal with how cheap the place was,’’ he said.

He said it also meant they could host ‘‘some pretty serious parties’’.

Quinovic Thorndon chief operating officer Paul Chapman said it was now working with the owner of the property on matters such as Healthy Homes and ‘‘will be taking action to ensure the property is compliant within the required timeframe’’.