WESTSIDE STAR JORDAN'S OFF-SCREEN DRAMA

The actor and his filmmaker partner had to hustle to save themselves from homelessness

- 

While filming their latest series, a spicy new whodunnit called The Sender, Kiwi actor Jordan Mooney and his partner, award-winning writer and director Liv McClymont, were facing a drama of their own off screen.

The couple, who had to move out of their Auckland rental after it was sold, suddenly found themselves scrambling to avoid homelessness in the city's cut-throat housing market.

"It took a huge hustle and went right down to the wire," says Jordan of the search, which he tackled alongside Liv and their three flatmates. "We looked at 69 different houses, including some absolute shockers, but as soon as we walked into this house, we knew instantly it was the one."

The charming character villa, complete with stained-glass rose windows on the front door, high ceilings and polished wooden floors, miraculously appeared just two weeks before their short-term lease ended.

Still in the same suburb of Mt Eden, the location ticked every box. It was close to studios, had plenty of space for everyone and even had room for Jordan's beloved old Citroëns.

"There are two parked in the driveway now," laughs the actor, who played loveable larrikin Eric Grady on Westside. "I'm slowly becoming my father! He had several French cars when I was growing up." Jordan, 35, took on the house hunt with his signature organisational skills, impressing Liv, 31, with a colour-coordinated chart that kept track of all the places they looked at.