Charging a bond
If the landlord charges a bond they must lodge it digitally with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.
When landlords must lodge the bond
Landlords who charge a bond:
- must give the tenant a receipt.
- must lodge it digitally with Tenancy Services within 23 working days of receiving it. This applies whether you send the bond in full or in instalments.
If the landlord charges a bond they must lodge it digitally with Tenancy Services within 23 working days. They must lodge bonds by using an approved form, this is either the bond lodgement form on the Tenancy Services website or a property management software linked to our business-to-business connection.
Make sure you fill out the forms correctly or we won’t be able to lodge your bond. This may also cause delays when applying for a refund.
In a boarding house tenancy, if the bond is one week’s rent or less it doesn’t have to be lodged.
Bulk bond lodgements, and payments via direct credit and direct debit, are only available through the business-to-business connection.
Business-to-business connection
Maximum bond
A bond can be up to the equivalent of 4 weeks’ rent. Other forms of security are not allowed, but a landlord may ask for a guarantor’s agreement.
Increasing or decreasing bond
If the landlord increases the rent, they may ask the tenant to pay additional bond in line with the increase.
For example: the tenant has paid a bond equivalent to 3 weeks’ rent and weekly rent goes up by $10 - this means the landlord can request an extra $30 to be paid to the bond.
You can only request the extra bond payment for a current rent increase. The extra bond payment can’t cover previous rent increases where an extra bond was not requested at the time.
Once the tenant pays the extra bond, it must be lodged digitally with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.
If the rent decreases and the total bond is now more than 4 week’s rent, the tenant can apply to have the extra bond refunded.
Lodge your bond using our bond lodgement webform
You must lodge your bond digitally through our bond lodgement webform. Bond lodgements through email or post are no longer available.
Account2Account and credit card payments are available when using the online form.
When a bond is lodged, notifications will still be sent to the tenant(s) and landlord or property manager.
You can also lodge your bond using property management software, linked to a new business-to-business connection.
Lodge your bond using our bond lodgement webform(external link)
Lodge your bond using the business-to-business connection
The new business-to-business connection can be built into your existing property management system. Speak with your property management software vendor about accessing this service.
If you’re a landlord that will lodge more than 1 bond, bulk lodgements can be done through the business-to-business connection. Direct debit and direct credit payments are available through the business-to-business connection only.
There is a one-off registration process to complete for the new connection. Your property management software vendor will guide you.
Paying by direct debit
Direct debit payments are available when lodging a bond through property management software (PMS) through the business-to-business connection.
To pay by direct debit, you will need to be registered with Tenancy Services as an authorised direct debit payer.
If you have paid by direct debit in the past, you are already an authorised payer and can use this payment method when you lodge bonds through your PMS.
If you haven’t previously paid by direct debit, you will first need to register to become an authorised direct debit payer. Follow the steps below:
1. Read, complete and sign a direct debit authority form [PDF, 436 KB] [PDF, 436 KB].
- This form details the terms and conditions of the service and will remain in force until you advise us you want to cancel the arrangement.
- You may only register one bank account for deduction.
If your deduction bank account is not a transactional account, you may need to check with your bank that your account type supports direct debits.
2. Email the completed direct debit authority form to bond.finance@mbie.govt.nz
3. Once your form has been processed, Tenancy Services will email you a unique direct debit authority identifier (DDAUTHID).
Take note of your DDAUTHID. It must be used each time you initiate a direct debit payment. Do not share it with anyone – it is linked to the bank account from Step 1.
Making a direct debit payment
Once you are an authorised direct debit payer and have been issued with a direct debit authority identifier (DDAUTHID), you may lodge your bonds by direct debit through your PMS.
To pay your bonds by direct debit, follow the steps below:
- Complete and sign the direct debit payment form [PDF, 270 KB] [PDF, 436 KB], taking care to check your forms. Please be sure the total bond amounts match the total amount of payment. A payment form must be completed every time you lodge bonds.
- Enter the bond lodgement details in your PMS and select the option to indicate you will pay by direct debit. Upload the direct debit payment form before submitting your bond lodgement.
- We will send you a notification to let you know the amount of payment and the date on which the funds will be deducted from your nominated bank account. Please be sure the funds required to meet the payment are in your account on this date.
Need more help?
Contact us at: bond.finance@mbie.govt.nz.
Pay using direct credit
Direct credit payments are available through the business-to-business connection. To pay by direct credit, you will first need to register to become an authorised direct credit payer. Please email bond.finance@mbie.govt.nz to set this up before you lodge a bond.
Making a direct credit payment
Once you are an authorised direct credit payer, you may lodge your bonds by direct credit through your PMS.
To pay your bonds by direct credit, follow the steps below:
- Prepare a remittance advice, providing a summary (or schedule) of the bond amount to be paid in relation to each bond lodgement. A remittance advice must be completed every time you lodge bonds.
- Enter the bond lodgement details in your PMS and select the option to indicate you will pay by direct credit. Upload the remittance advice before submitting your bond lodgement.
Need more help?
Contact us at: bond.finance@mbie.govt.nz.
Bonds on properties leased by Community Housing Providers
There are several issues that need to be considered regarding bonds on properties leased by Community Housing Providers from property owners. For more information, visit:
Preventing problems with bonds
Refunding a bond
Bond refunds usually take 10 working days when a fully and correctly completed form has been lodged. The bond refund process depends on when your bond was lodged.
Last updated: 18 December 2024
