The bond system is changing

The system we currently use to manage bonds is now 24 years old, and it’s mostly paper-based. So, we’re building a new digital bond system, which will:

• give us an opportunity to rethink how we provide our services
• better support landlords and tenants through the bond process
• give landlords and tenants more transparency over the bonds we hold on their behalf.

What’s changing and when

We'll be introducing the new bond system in stages, throughout 2024 and 2025. This will allow us to test new features and designs as we go.

The first stage of the project will focus on building the new system and replacing our current technology. Once we have the foundation in place, we'll be looking at how we can integrate the new bond system with the property management systems already in use. This will allow property managers to share their bond data with us automatically, instead of loading it into each system separately.

We’ll also be building a new online portal to give tenants and landlords the ability to manage their bonds online themselves.

When it’s complete, landlords and property managers will be able to use the portal to: 

• lodge individual bonds online 
• lodge multiple bonds at once, and make a single payment for the total amount lodged – by either direct credit or direct debit 
• view the status of bond lodgements as they’re being processed 
• receive notifications on the status of bonds 
• change landlord or tenant details, and request refunds 
• see the details of any bonds lodged in the new system. 

Tenants will be able to use the portal to:

• keep their personal details up to date 
• lodge and pay their bond online, with their landlord’s consent 
• see the details of their bond online 
• request changes to their bond, such as changing the details of existing tenants 
• request a bond refund online.

While we’re working to build the portal, tenants and landlords will continue to receive notifications any time there's a change to a bond’s status. 

This means they’ll get updates on things like: 

• bond lodgements
• change of landlord or tenant details, and refunds.

Notifications will be sent by email in most cases, but tenants will be able to request notification by post, if they prefer.

Moving to the new system

As we work to get the new system online, we’ll continue to provide reliable, efficient bond services to all New Zealanders.

Both tenants and landlords will still be able to: 

• find all our forms and tools on our website
• contact us by phone or email when necessary
• get advice and support from our Customer Service Centre team.

Getting involved

We’ll continue to talk with property management software vendors as we develop and test solutions for integrating property managers’ data with the new Tenancy Bond system. If your company would be interested in talking to us, please send us your details by submitting an expression of interest form and we’ll be in touch.

We’ll also be working with landlords, property managers and tenants to test options for the new online portal. We want to ensure it's as user-friendly as possible, so we'll be completing several rounds of testing to make sure we're on the right track.

If you’d like to take part in future rounds of testing, you can register by submitting an expression of interest form to us.

Bond Transformation Project: Expression of Interest

Project updates 

We’ll be keeping everyone up to date on what's happening on the project as we go. Keep an eye out for updates here, in the Tenancy Matters newsletter, or on our social media channels.

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Last updated: 12 March 2024.