When the tenancy ends, the tenant and landlord should inspect the property together. If the inspection shows everything’s in order, complete the bond refund form and send it to Tenancy Services for it to be processed.

You can choose to have a bond refunded to any nominated New Zealand bank account, including:

1. refunding the tenants amount to a single tenant or multiple tenants
2. refunding a bond to a new landlord

If there’s unpaid rent or other outstanding costs, the tenant and landlord may agree to split the bond. Part of the bond is refunded to the landlord to cover their costs and the rest is refunded to the nominated bank account(s) of the tenant(s).

The bond refund form should be completed to reflect the amount, refunds will be processed within 10 working days when a correctly and fully completed form is received. If you can’t agree on the refund amount, you will need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

Bond refund form [PDF, 584 KB]

If there is a change of tenant during the tenancy, there are 2 forms that must be completed, find out what forms need to be completed.

Changing information on a bond record

Refunding a bond to tenant(s)

If you’re a tenant, you can choose to have the bond refunded separately to multiple accounts or to 1 bank account. If there are more than 2 tenants’, you will need to also complete and send us the ‘Additional tenants bond refund form’. This additional form allows a refund to be made up to 6 nominated bank accounts.

Additional tenants bond refund form [PDF, 574 KB]

Refunding a bond to a new landlord

If you are a tenant starting a new tenancy and would like to have your current bond paid to your new landlord, you can indicate this when you fill out a bond refund form. Talk to your new landlord first to check they agree.

When filling out the bond refund form, tenants can nominate any New Zealand bank account for the bond to be paid to, including their new landlord.

When they receive your bond, your new landlord must still give you a receipt and digitally lodge the full amount with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.  

The whole amount can be refunded to the new landlord’s account. If the new bond amount is more than the old bond, tenants must pay the new landlord the difference.

If you need to use a portion of your bond to pay your current landlord (for example, if there is outstanding rent), this amount must be listed in the ‘landlord details’ section of the bond refund form. Also indicate who will receive the remaining amount of bond. This can be paid to 1 tenant, split amongst tenants, or paid to your new landlord if they agree.

Signatures

If your bond was lodged before 2 December 2024, the people who sign the bond refund form must be the same as the people who signed the bond lodgement form. If these signatures do not match there may be delays in refunding the bond.

If your bond was lodged on or after 2 December 2024, or your bond number starts with ‘BN’, send a copy of the signature page from the tenancy agreement with your bond refund form. We will use this information to verify your signature and confirm the refund details are agreed.

Download the refund form [PDF, 584 KB]

Either the landlord or the tenant can send the form to Tenancy Services, once it’s filled out and signed by all tenants and the landlord.

Send the completed form to us by either:

• scanning and emailing to bonds@tenancy.govt.nz
  • if your email has been received, you'll get an automatic reply email from us. If you don't receive an auto reply from us, please check you have used the correct email address and resend your email.
• posting to Tenancy Services, PO Box 50445, Porirua 5240

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

Refunds are made by direct credit to the bank account numbers you provide on the bond refund form. Refunds will only be made to a NZ bank account.

If the tenant or landlord can’t sign the form

If the tenant or landlord can’t or won’t sign the bond refund form, complete the form anyway and send it to us. We will try to contact the party who hasn’t signed to check they agree with the refund and give them an opportunity to respond before we can refund the bond as requested by the other party.

If the landlord or tenant doesn’t agree to the bond payment, we will let both parties know that there’s an issue. The bond will be refunded when we receive either:

• a new bond refund form signed and dated by the landlord and all tenants, after the dispute date
• a Mediator’s Order or an Order of the Tenancy Tribunal advising how the bond is to be refunded.

A landlord can only submit a form that the tenant hasn’t signed within 2 months of the tenancy ending. After that they will need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to claim part of the bond or they will need to get the tenant to sign a refund form. 

If the tenant and landlord can’t agree

If the tenant and the landlord can’t agree on the bond refund, either (or both) can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to get it sorted.

If both the landlord and tenant(s) are willing, they can ask for a mediator to help them try to reach an agreement. If you don’t want to use a mediator, or mediation doesn’t work, you will have to attend a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.

Applying to the Tenancy Tribunal

If the tenant or landlord has passed away

If the tenant or landlord has passed away, their appointed executor must sign the bond refund form. If a will or probate does not exist, the claim must be made by a court appointed administrator. To release the bond we will need to see the following documents:

1. a copy of the death certificate;
2. proof of the executor or administrator of the tenant's estate, such as a court order, a copy of the probate, or a letter from a lawyer or The Public Trust Office;
3. a bond refund form signed by all parties. The executor or administrator of the estate must sign on behalf of the deceased;
4. a signature ID from the executor or administrator of the estate.

More information on what to do when someone dies(external link)

A refund will also be made in accordance with any court order, such as a Tenancy Tribunal order.

If the bond isn’t claimed or collected

If bond remains unclaimed or uncollected for 6 years after the tenancy ends or the refund is approved, the bond becomes the property of the Crown.