Garden of Eden for homeowners

Coro Daniel is looking to put on extra services including meals and transfers to games for guests at her Mt Eden home. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Homeowners willing to let rugby fans take over their house during the Rugby World Cup are set to rake in up to $4500 a week.

Two years from the 2011 tournament, offers of more than double the usual weekly rental - and higher - have been made on Auckland properties.

And overseas tour companies are already trying to secure houses in New Zealand for the Cup.

Coro Daniel already rents her Mt Eden house as a holiday home, and is looking to put on extra services including meals and transfers to games.

The three-bedroom house, plus a two-person cottage, rents for $500 a night, and Daniel hasn't decided whether to increase prices for the Cup.

"All I know is there's not enough accommodation, so I'm sure it's going to be pretty busy," she said. "We're in a prime location, so it's just a matter of thinking how are we going to do it, how are we going to market it?"

Leslie Preston, general manager of holiday home website Bachcare, said she'd spoken to overseas tour companies about renting houses.

"There's definitely an interest in securing alternative accommodation, not just in Auckland but in various regions."

Preston said she expected homeowners to offer their houses, as many did during the America's Cup and Lions rugby tour.

"There will be opportunistic owners who want to take advantage of the crazy times and get out of town themselves."

Even a bach at Snells Beach, north of Auckland, was already being marketed to rugby fans as "just 45 minutes approximately from Eden Park".

Real estate agent Richard Lancaster is marketing a two-bedroom apartment for sale in Kingsland as a "rugby retreat", which would attract top rent during the Cup.

"If you buy something now it's going to go up in value and get really good return during the World Cup," Lancaster said. He said rates could be about $300 a night.

"I'd be looking at what hotels charge and putting a premium on top of that."

David Graham, franchise manager for rental management firm Quinovic, said an offer of $3500 had been received for a Parnell property, which usually rents for $1500 a week.

Properties close to Eden Park were being offered for about $4500 a week, he said.

But Graham said the return would depend on the quality of the house, and cautioned owners to be realistic.

A reputable renter who made a deposit well in advance was more important than holding out for more cash, he said.

And he warned owners to think about what's involved in loaning out your home.

"You've got to clear out all your clothes, all your personal items, anything of value. Where are you going to store it all?"

Auckland Tourism chief executive Graeme Osborne said while private homes would be rented during the Cup, some of the prices being asked were "pie in the sky".

The 70,000 expected visitors would have a range of options, from motorhomes to floating cruise ship hotels, he said.

And many, particularly those from over the ditch, would bunk down with friends and relatives.

Tourism bodies around the country were working together to solve any "pinch points" for accommodation.

"I'm fairly comfortable that we will accommodate those people," Osborne said.