While the district council and some landlords are offering rent relief, many say they're struggling.
Last year, Queenstown's rentals costs were so expensive that some low-wage workers resorted to sharing not just a room, but a bed - sleeping in shifts.
Queenstown Community Support Centre manager Robyn Francis said it had now gone from a high cost, housing shortage to a surplus.
"Thousands of Airbnbs aren't being utilised and won't be utilised for who know, those people with the Airbnbs are looking to get longer term tenants in so prices are dropping really quickly," Francis said.
But many residents aren't feeling any benefit from the drop.
One hospitality worker, speaking anonymously, said his wage subsidy payments didn't even cover his rent.
"The thing is my rental here is $600 dollars a week, so I'm in a negative just with that payment."
Instead he was using his annual leave to top up his income to $650 and said his position would even worse without food vouchers.
"It would be pretty dire. I don't know what we'd do actually. I'm still fit and and able to work, and I love working. But it's just not out there at the moment," he said.
He and his wife have tried to get their rent reduced - without success.
"It's a hell of a situation to be in and it's not caused by us, we understand with Covid and everything like that, and there's other people in the same situation. It's just worrying times, and every dollar that we can save is going to help us in the end."
The Queenstown Lakes District Council's Emergency Operations Centre has already given out more than $380,000 in food vouchers and received more than 5000 requests for welfare.
Citizens Advice Bureau Queenstown manager Rachel Reece said she was concerned rental issues would continue to grow after the lockdown ends.
"Look, this is just the tip of the iceberg and I've been just trying to give good solid, sound advice for people to be able to get through this period. Once the lockdown is lifted, I think we are going to see a whole lot of other issues arise," Reece said.
Among them will be some tenants being stuck covering all the costs after their housemates left before the lockdown.
"There are people that are stuck in fixed term leases that the Tenancy Act still applies. If you've signed a tenancy agreement to pay X amount for a certain period of time, you're stuck in that unless the landlord provides some sort of flexibility and relief," she said.
"And if the landlord will not, then you're still committed."
When visa worker Joshua was put on the wage subsidy after his hours were reduced and his flatmate lost their job, he wasn't sure how they'd cover rent - which costs him roughly half his salary.
He decided to text his landlord to see if they would help.
"I just explained about what happened and I said 'any little that you can do is helpful. Any little money helps because we don't know what the future holds.
If you're losing your job, then we need this money to sustain.' And she replied back that 'I will check with my bank what best I can do'. She got back to me after two days saying that 'we are happy to reduce 50% rent for this month," Joshua said.
He hoped more landlords would consider mortgage holidays, and offer similar support to their tenants.
"A lot of people here are paying mortgages for the houses that they have bought, but if they've got the benefit of not paying the mortgage for a few months, why not help other people who are suffering?"
The government has relaxed some work visa restrictions allowing some migrant workers to increase their hours or change employer, but Francis from the Queenstown Community Support Centre wanted to see more universal support for them.
"We've shut them down effectively by closing borders, limiting movement and travel, we need to deal with the impacts and a relief package for migrants on working visas who are now unemployed is the best solution. Well, it's the only solution really," Francis said.
"Queenstown is in a very real crisis. Because we're in lockdown you can't really see it, but as soon as this lockdown is lifted we've got major issues."
While many are doing it tough, community leaders are concerned the worst may be yet to come.
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Comments
They've made their bed, watch the renters leg it....
We need to remind renters that just because mortgage holders may be granted "mortgage holiday periods" they are simply pushing that debt further down the road. The mortgage holder will still have to pay the borrowed money back to the financier including additional arrear interest, whether that be a lengthened mortgage term or additional top ups to catch up when times/incomes get better. Now I believe to be fair renters should also be entitled to a "rental holiday period". However the renter will have to expect to make up for the shortfall when income improves by either agreeing with a rental term extendion also or paying more rent (top up) to catch up with the holiday rent arrears before the tenancy expiry date just like the mortgage holder. Just one other thing. With borders/flights closed It will be a very long time if ever before Queenstown returns to the mass tourism town pre Covid. For those on low hospitality incomes whom will choose to reside in thr resort I give you some advise. If your looking at any6 new leases on rentals, be prepared to bargain the rent asking and be prepared to walk as the next and most landlords with a mortgage sooner have a tenant than a vacancy.