Love It or Li t It NZ: Payment, Renovation , Ho t & How to Apply

Few couple discussions end with a television crew at the front door. But when the disagreement is about renovating the home you have versus packing up and moving, the stakes feel real — and that’s exactly the tension Love It or List It NZ brings to screen since 2021. With interior designer Alex Walls and real estate agent Paul Glover guiding families through the stay-or-sell decision, the show has become a fixture for Kiwis curious about what actually happens behind the scenes.

Hosts: Alex Walls and Paul Glover ·
Seasons: 4 (as of 2025) ·
Original network: Channel 4 (UK) / TVNZ (NZ) ·
First aired: 2021 ·
Format: Renovation vs. relocation

Seven details capture the show’s core setup:

Do You Get Paid for Being on Love It or List It NZ?

Compensation structure for participants

Whether the show pays participants a fee remains one of the haziest questions around the NZ edition. The only confirmed source about the franchise’s financial model comes from the UK casting form, which states that Raise the Roof Productions does not pay for any of the work carried out in the home (Jotform / Raise the Roof Productions – UK casting terms). For the NZ version, the production company Screentime NZ has not publicly disclosed any participant payment policy (no official statement found).

Typical TV show participant payment policies

Reality renovation shows often do not pay appearance fees; instead, the value comes from the free renovation or the exposure. In the US version, Country Living reports that participants always pay for the renovation themselves and are not paid for appearing (Country Living – US version rules summary). Without an official statement from Screentime, Kiwis should assume that any appearance is unpaid unless confirmed otherwise.

The implication: participants trade their time and home access for the renovation or sale service, not a cheque.

Who Pays for Renovations on Love It or List It NZ?

Renovation budget source

This is the most critical financial question for any applicant — and the answer differs by country. The UK casting form explicitly says homeowners must have their own renovation budget already in place (Jotform / Raise the Roof Productions – own budget required). For the NZ version, no public document confirms whether Screentime covers the renovation costs or expects homeowners to pay. The show’s website description — “primetime reality series featuring Kiwi homeowners who cannot agree on whether to keep or leave their family home” — does not mention financing (no official source located).

Limits and scope of work

Without published NZ-specific terms, the most reliable guide is the US version, where Country Living explains that participants must have a minimum renovation budget — reportedly at least $100,000 — and the production does not pay for temporary accommodation (Country Living – US version budget details). It is plausible that the NZ version follows a similar self-funded model, but this remains unconfirmed.

What this means: before applying, Kiwi homeowners should treat renovation funding as their own responsibility unless the production company states otherwise in writing.

Do Homeowners Keep the Furniture on Love It or List It NZ?

Furniture ownership after the show

In the UK and US versions, homeowners typically keep the furniture, fixtures, and decor added during the renovation. The items are considered part of the renovation package and stay with the home, even if the homeowner ultimately lists the property (Country Living – US version furniture policy).

Deal with interior designer

The NZ version, hosted by interior designer Alex Walls, likely follows the same principle. While no separate NZ policy has been published, the franchise-wide standard is that the homeowner keeps everything that was installed or furnished. If the homeowner chooses to sell, the furniture may be included in the listing or become a negotiating point with the buyer.

The pattern: across all versions, the furniture is a permanent improvement, not a loan — homeowners get to keep it regardless of their final decision.

Who Are the Presenters on Love It or List It NZ?

Alex Walls – Interior designer

Alex Walls is an interior designer and co-founder of A&C Homestore, a New Zealand furniture and homewares retailer. She leads the renovation side of the show, redesigning the family’s existing home to make them fall in love with it again.

Paul Glover – Actor and estate agent

Paul Glover is both a licensed real estate agent and an actor, giving him dual credibility when showing alternative properties. He scours the market to find homes that could replace the family’s current residence. Together, Walls and Glover embody the show’s central conflict — stay or sell (host roles as described by the show’s public materials).

Why this matters: the presenters are not just faces; each brings professional skills that directly influence the advice homeowners receive.

How to Apply for Love It or List It NZ

Application process

Screentime NZ has published a Season 2 application form on its website. Prospective participants can download the form and submit it via email or online portal (application page found at Screentime NZ, but link not verified). The form is not always live; it appears when a new season is in pre-production.

Eligibility criteria

Based on the UK casting form, which likely parallels NZ requirements, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old (Jotform / Raise the Roof Productions – age requirement)
• Permanently reside in the country and own the home (Jotform / Raise the Roof Productions – residency and ownership)
• Have enough funds to cover the renovation budget (Jotform / Raise the Roof Productions – budget requirement)

Screentime has not published its own eligibility list, so the UK criteria serve as the best available proxy.

What to expect when selected

Once chosen, families undergo interviews, a home evaluation, and then filming over several days. The production team does not provide accommodation during filming, and homeowners must vacate their home during renovation work — a common requirement across the franchise (Country Living – US version living arrangements).

The trade-off: applying is simple, but the financial and time commitment behind the scenes is substantial.

The NZ edition’s production details — some confirmed, some inferred — are summarized below:

Love It or List It NZ is a primetime reality series featuring Kiwi homeowners who cannot agree on whether to keep or leave their family home.

— Show description (source not independently verified)

On Love It or List It, the homeowners always pay for the renovation.

— Country Living, US version summary

The production company will not be responsible for costs involved in the renovation process.

— Raise the Roof Productions, UK casting terms

For Kiwi homeowners considering the show, the financial clarity is still patchy. The verifiable facts come from the UK and US versions: homeowners are not paid and they fund the renovations themselves. Until Screentime NZ publishes its terms, the safest assumption is that the NZ version follows suit. For New Zealanders, the choice is simple: confirm everything in writing before you sign, or risk footing a bill that could rival a new house.

For a comparison with the Australian version, read our detailed guide to Love It or List It Australia, which covers similar themes of renovation and property decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Compare House Insurance NZ · Home Loan Value vs Rate – Compare NZ Banks 2025