If you want to end your tenancy, it's important to understand the rules for giving notice.

See 'Ending a boarding house tenancy' for notice periods for boarding houses.

Ending a boarding house tenancy


Recent changes to notice periods

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act took effect on 11 February 2021 and changed the law on notice periods and reasons for ending a tenancy.

See our table for a summary of the former and current requirements.

Tenancy agreements signed before 11 February 2021: requirements for notice periods changed on 11 February 2021. If your tenancy agreement was signed before then, it may state an out-of-date notice period timeframe. Please follow the requirements in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. For example, if your tenancy agreement was signed in January 2021 and says tenants must give 21 days’ notice to end the periodic tenancy, this is now 28 days’ notice.

Online tool

How much notice do you have to give?

Answer these short questions to find out whether you can give notice to end your tenancy, and how much notice you need to give.


1. Are you a landlord or a tenant?

Ending a fixed-term tenancy

You cannot give notice to end a fixed-term tenancy early. However, there are some options available if landlords or tenants want to do this.

Ending a fixed-term tenancy early

Ending a periodic tenancy

A landlord or tenant must give notice to end a periodic tenancy.

Read more about ending a periodic tenancy.

When notice can be given

Notice to end a tenancy can be given on any day of any week, to end the tenancy on any day of any week. Notice to end a periodic tenancy can be given at any time after the tenancy agreement has been signed - even if the tenancy has not yet started.

The day of the week that the tenancy ends on doesn’t have to match the day of the week the tenancy began on. It also doesn't need to match the day of the week the rent is normally paid on.

Read more about serving notices

Ending a build-to-rent 10 year tenancy

A build-to-rent tenant who accepts a 10 year tenancy can give written notice of 56 days to terminate a tenancy.

Notice to end a build-to-rent tenancy [DOCX, 765 KB]

More information on build-to-rent

Ending a service tenancy

A service tenancy normally ends when the tenant’s employment or engagement ends or is transferred. 

Read more about service tenancies

Retaliatory notice

A ‘retaliatory notice’ is where a landlord gives a notice to a tenant to end a tenancy in retaliation for a tenant standing up for their rights. For example, if they make a complaint about the tenancy.

It is an unlawful act for a landlord to issue a retaliatory notice. The Tenancy Tribunal can award exemplary damages of up to $6,500 if a landlord does this.

If a landlord issues a retaliatory notice the tenant can apply to the Tribunal to have the notice set aside. The tenant has to apply within 28 working days of receiving the notice.

When a tenant stays in the property after the tenancy ends

Sometimes a tenant doesn’t move out of the property when the tenancy has ended. There could be different reasons for this. The landlord should try to contact the tenant to find out why they haven’t moved out.

Sometimes landlords and tenants agree to extend the tenancy if the tenant’s having difficulty moving out in time. The landlord doesn’t have to agree to this though. If the tenant remains in the tenancy without the agreement of the landlord it is an unlawful act.

If a tenant refuses to move out after the tenancy has ended, the landlord can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for help. The Tribunal can give an order that returns possession of the premises to the landlord. If the landlord suffers financially as a result of the tenant refusing to move out, the Tribunal can also order the tenant to pay them compensation.

How to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal

If the tenant stays at the property for more than 90 days after the tenancy ends, it will mean that the landlord has given them a new periodic tenancy. This means that the landlord needs to give the tenant a new notice to end the tenancy if they still want them to move out.

Death of a tenant

If there is only one tenant named on a tenancy agreement and they die, the tenancy ends on one of the following dates (whichever is earliest). This also applies to fixed-term tenancies:

  • 21 days after the tenant’s personal representative or next of kin gives the landlord written notice of the tenant's death
  • 21 days after the landlord gives the tenant’s personal representative or next of kin written notice to leave the premises
  • a date agreed in writing by the landlord with the tenant’s personal representative or next of kin
  • a date given by the Tenancy Tribunal on an application made by the landlord (this can be made without notice).

Service tenancy

If a tenant of a service tenancy dies and leaves a dependent living in the premises, the landlord must give at least 14 days' notice to end the tenancy. The landlord can give less notice in the following situations:

  • If the landlord's business needs to have a new employee in place in less than 14 days and there is no other accommodation available for that employee during the 14 days. In this case, the landlord can give 5 days' notice.
  • If the Armed Forces need to use the property in less than 14 days. 

Section 53 (5) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 has more information about ending service tenancies if a tenant dies.

Read Section 53 (5) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986(external link) — Legislation New Zealand

What to know when a tenancy ends

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.

Find out more about withdrawal from a tenancy following family violence

Termination by notice for physical assault by 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.

Find out more about termination by notice for physical assault by tenant


For more information about ending a tenancy, see our easy to follow guide.

What to know when a tenancy ends

Rating form

Did you find this information helpful?

Last updated: 02 June 2023