Ending a tenancy
Both tenants and landlords have responsibilities when a tenancy ends. Find out about what you need to do.
What do you need to think about when a tenancy comes to an end? One of our houses learns about when tenants and landlords need to give notice and the process when a tenancy ends.
Giving notice to end a tenancy
If you want to end your tenancy, it's important to understand the rules for giving notice.
In this section
Change of landlord or tenant
What you need to know if a tenant or landlord changes, or if the house is sold.
In this section
Expiry of a fixed-term tenancy
A fixed-term tenancy only lasts for the set amount of time on the tenancy agreement. It can be renewed or extended if the landlord and tenant agree.
Ending a fixed-term tenancy early
Generally, a landlord or tenant cannot give notice to end a fixed-term tenancy early.
However, there are limited exceptions to this rule, and some other options available if the landlord or tenant wants to end a tenancy early.
What to do when a tenancy ends
When a tenancy’s coming to an end, both landlords and tenants can help things go smoothly before and on the final day of the tenancy.
Serving notices
When you serve notice, you can deliver it by hand or send it to the other person. You should allow time for the notice to be delivered.
Abandoned premises and goods
Find out what to do if a tenant moves out without giving the correct notice, or leaves things behind.
In this section
Subletting
Subletting is usually where the tenant moves out of the house they're renting and on-rents the house to someone else, such as for a residential tenancy or for a short term holiday purpose.
What to know when a tenancy ends
Find out what you need to do at the end of your tenancy.
Withdrawal from a tenancy following family violence
A tenant who experiences family violence during a tenancy can remove themselves from the tenancy by giving the landlord at least 2 days’ written notice in the approved form (with qualifying evidence of family violence) without financial penalty or the need for agreement from the landlord. This applies to both fixed-term and periodic tenancy agreements. Victims of family violence do not need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end their tenancy.
Ending a tenancy for physical assault by the tenant
A landlord can give written notice of at least 14 days in the approved form to terminate a tenancy, if the tenant has physically assaulted the landlord, the owner, a member of the landlord or owner’s family, or the landlord’s agent, and the Police have filed a charge against the tenant in respect of the assault. Landlords will need to provide qualifying evidence of the charge being filed.
