An apartment in the Fireman's Apartments, on Petone's Jackson St, is New Zealand's most popular rental - with 85 inquiries. The modern complex is built atop the old Fireman's Arms pub, and rental listing agency Oxygen says it's never hard to fill.

An apartment in Lower Hutt has become New Zealand's most-popular rental, as the local tenancy market soars.

The apartment on Jackson St in Petone was Trade Me's most-popular rental in April after it received 85 inquiries in just two days – three more than a property in Chamberlain St, Auckland, in the same month.

Trade Me figures show the increase in rental prices in Lower Hutt was much higher than the national average, out-stripping Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch.

SUPPLIED Trade Me Property head Nigel Jeffries said Wellington's rental market had cooled after a frenetic summer.

The figures compared April 2017 with April 2018. In that time rental prices increased by 3.8 per cent in Auckland and by 6.7 per cent in Wellington. Christchurch prices stayed static.

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Nationally, rents increased by 5.6 per cent. But in Upper Hutt the increase was 13.7 per cent and in Lower Hutt it was 7.1 per cent. Central Wellington was also at 7.1 per cent.

STUFF Jackson St, Petone, had New Zealand's most-popular rental in April, according to Trade Me figures.

Oxygen property management listed the Jackson St apartment built atop the old Firemans Arms pub, and operation manager Lynley Horne said it was never difficult to fill.

"It's a good price, it's a studio apartment, it's modern, it's got lots of natural light ... it's warm, dry and healthy.

"It's a really good price for living on the top of Jackson St."

Trade Me property head Nigel Jeffries said Wellington's rental prices - while up on a year ago - had cooled slightly after a "frenetic" summer period, when average rents were up to $500. They were down to $480 in April.

"After the median weekly rent in Wellington City peaked earlier in the year, we've seen a steady increase in demand in what were traditionally quieter areas like Lower and Upper Hutt which is pushing prices in the Hutt Valley north.

"Wellingtonians appear to be happy to opt for a longer commute into the city in order to save on rent. "

A property in Eldon Grove, Taita, was Wellington's second-most popular rental after receiving 69 inquiries in two days, while a Roxburgh St, Mt Victoria, rental took third place with 49 inquiries.

Leon Cooke of Stirling Real Estate said Petone apartments were "flying out the door" partly thanks to a big student population and Wellingtonians moving out.

New tenants were generally moving in the day after departing tenants moved out, he said.

But to Dave Stewart, who easily rented out his three-bedroom apartment on the corner of Cuba St and the Esplanade in Petone, little has changed in the 20-odd years he has had it.

After an initial "flurry" of about 40 inquiries there hadn't been a huge amount of interest. He believed that many Wellingtonians still saw the harbour as a barrier and were reluctant to move to Petone, even with good access to the city.

"In my experience, people who say they can't find property aren't willing to go to Petone."