If your question is about tenancy agreements:

A tenancy agreement is a contract between tenants and landlords. They must be in writing, but the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 still applies if there is no written agreement. The tenancy agreement takes effect from the start date of the tenancy (listed in the agreement) until the tenancy ends.

We have a residential tenancy agreement template available. This is updated regularly. Make sure you are using the latest version available on our website that reflects current tenancy laws.

General information about tenancy agreements (including templates)

Adding extra conditions to tenancy agreements

Additional statements that must be included in tenancy agreements

If your question is about ending a tenancy:

If the tenancy is periodic (there is no fixed end date), landlords and tenants need to give the correct amount of notice to end the periodic tenancy.

Find out the correct notice period for periodic tenancies

If the tenancy is for a fixed term:

• Landlords and tenants have limited options to end the fixed-term tenancy early. Some of these options may be limited to certain circumstances.
• Landlords and tenants must still notify the other if the tenancy is ending as per its expiry date.

Information on ending a fixed-term tenancy early

Information on what happens when a fixed-term tenancy expires

If your question is about bond lodgements or refunds:

If a landlord charges a bond they must lodge it digitally with us within 23 working days.

• For general bonds, landlords can charge a maximum of 4 weeks’ rent. 
• For pet bonds, landlords can charge a maximum of 2 weeks' rent.

When we have received a complete and correct form, our processing times are:

• Bond lodgements: up to 10 working days
• Bond refunds: up to 5 working days

Lodge your bond online(external link)

If we need further information to process your request, we will contact you by phone, email, or letter.

Once the bond is lodged, the tenant and landlord will receive an acknowledgement. This will include the bond number.

• You can reply to this acknowledgement letter if you need to provide additional information or require information.
• If you are sending us a separate email, include your bond number or tenancy address in the email subject line so we can easily match your email with your records.

At the end of the tenancy, a bond refund form needs to be completed.

Refunding a bond

If the landlord and tenant cannot agree on the refund amount, you will need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

If the landlord or tenant cannot or will not sign the bond refund form, you can still complete the form and send it to us. An attempt will be made to contact the person who has not signed the bond refund form.

Find out more information on preventing problems with bonds

If your question is about Tenancy Tribunal applications:

To make an application to the Tenancy Tribunal you need to complete an application form. It costs $28 to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. You can apply online.

You can also view, amend, respond to or provide more information for an existing application online. If you have already submitted your application, you can upload additional documents and add notes to the application. You will not be able to change existing documents or information.

If you need to withdraw your application, you can do this by sending a message to our case management team through the online application system.

Make or amend a Tenancy Tribunal application

Applications that are scheduled for a hearing are transferred to the relevant District Court 5 days before the hearing. If you have a query or want to withdraw the application within this timeframe, you’ll need to contact the District Court.

Contact the District Court(external link)

If your question is about rights of entry or inspections:

Landlords can enter the grounds of the property without giving notice. They do need to make sure they are not interfering with the tenant’s quiet enjoyment.

Quiet enjoyment

To go inside the rental property, landlords must give the right amount of notice or get their tenant’s permission. Notice periods vary depending on why the landlord is entering the property.

It is a good idea for landlords to regularly inspect the property. Inspections cannot be more often than once every 4 weeks.

More information on accessing the property

More information on rights of entry for boarding houses

More information on inspections

If your question is about rent:

It is important that tenants pay the rent on time. If they do not, the tenants are breaching the tenancy agreement. If either the landlord or tenant notices a rent payment is missed, let the other person know straight away and see if you can agree to bring the rent up to date.

If you cannot reach an agreement:

• the landlord can send a notice to remedy (if the tenant owes less than 21 days rent).
• the landlord can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for termination of the tenancy (if the tenant owes 21 days of rent or more, or does not remedy the overdue rent).

General information about rent

Rent increases and reductions

Rent arrears

If your question is about the healthy homes standards:

The healthy homes standards became law on 1 July 2019. They introduced minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. Landlords were required to comply with the standards between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025.

There is more information on the healthy homes standards in our dedicated section of this website:

Healthy homes

If your question is about recent legislation changes:

Tenancy laws change regularly. There is more information on recent changes to tenancy laws in our dedicated section of this website:

Tenancy law changes

Where else can I find information?

We can provide information on rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act (the Act). If your question is not covered by the information above, you can contact us using the details below.

Not all renting arrangements are covered by the Act. These include:

• flatmates (people who live in the property but aren’t on the tenancy agreement)
• where someone is a boarder or lodger living with the property owner
• holiday homes
• retirement villages and rest homes
• commercial tenancies.

If any of these situations apply, we are unable to provide any further information. There are other organisations that provide information and support listed below.

Support and information for landlords:

• New Zealand Property Investors Federation(external link)
• Accommodation for workers – Business.govt.nz(external link)
• For homes – Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority(external link)

Support and information for property managers:

• Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ)(external link)
• Residential Property Managers Association of New Zealand(external link)

Support and information for tenants and flatmates:

• Citizens Advice Bureau(external link)
• Community Law(external link)
• Aratohu Tenant Advocacy(external link)