Janice Clune, 20, and boyfriend Jacob Bly, 21, know landlords will be less likely to see them in a busy market because of their ages.

Wellington's rental market has become a "dog eat dog world" in which renters overbid the price of a property in the hope of getting a foot in the door.

Some say it's a struggle just to view a property, as adverts are viewed online thousands of times within days.

According to Trade Me, Wellington rents have risen rapidly this year, and are expected to peak in the new year. Rents in the capital jumped 9.5 per cent annually to a median $433 a week, an increase of nearly $2000 a year, as tenancies came up for renewal.

Rents are up across Wellington, with Trade Me figures showing a 9.5 per cent annual rise to a median $433 a week.

Rents for the most popular housing option in Wellington, which is a 3-4 bedroom house, were up 11.1 per cent.

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Janice Clune, 20, and her partner have been unable to find a suitable property, despite searching the market for two years.

SUPPLIED Clune and Bly live in a small double room with all their belongings.

"Once we managed to see a place we really liked that was on for $270. We offered $300 and still didn't get it.

"About 30 other people had been to see the place, and someone offered more.

"We have pretty much taken on flat-hunting as a part-time job over the past two years. I look online up to four times a day to see if new properties have been listed, because its always first in, first served these days.

"In the weekends, we look at flats."

It's an owner's market, Alison Bullick of Wellington says, which forced her to settle before it got more difficult at this time of year.

"A landlord told us he was offered more money at a viewing where 20 people turned up.

"We couldn't even get a viewing in most cases, as we were beaten to it."

Clune and boyfriend Jacob Bly, 21, said they knew landlords would be less likely to see them in a busy market, because of their ages.

"As a young couple, people tend to put us into a category that they think all 20-year-olds are in – party people, messy, with no respect.

"We do our best to prove them wrong when we meet them."

The couple currently live in a room that has an arm's length of space on each side of the bed, with a single wardrobe for all of their belongings.

"It's not an ideal living space, and all we want is our own home to rent."