In New Zealand there is a law that covers the landlord-tenant relationship. It gives both landlords and tenants legal rights and obligations. This guide is designed for people who need to know the basics of what that law means especially when they’re renting for the first time.

The law is set out in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and its amendments. This guide goes over the main features of that law, from the signing of the Tenancy Agreement Form to the termination of the tenancy. (Copies of the Act and amendments are available from major bookshops.)

This guide also describes the role and services of the Tenancy Services division of the Department of Building and Housing. These services include information and advice, and if a problem occurs, the tenancy mediation service and the Tenancy Tribunal, which is part of the Department for Courts.

The best way to sort out most tenancy problems is to discuss them politely and calmly with your tenant or landlord.

You can download Renting and you - a guide to the law about renting - a booklet for tenants and landlords that's designed for people who need to know the basics of what the law relating to tenancy means, especially when they’re renting for the first time. It's available in ENGLISH, SAMOAN, TONGAN, KOREAN, Simplified CHINESE, Traditional CHINESE and ARABIC.

For more information about us and our services, and to access all the tenancy forms you will need, see our forms page or contact us on 0800 83 62 62.

We can help you sort it out.

Contents

Quick reference - rights and obligations

Starting a tenancy 

• Tenancy Agreements, ‘Address for Service’, tenancy types, property inspections

Money 

• Lodging bond money, ‘key money’, rules about rent

Repairs

When a rental property is sold

Sorting things out

• Disputes and mediation, the Tenancy Tribunal, mediated and Tribunal orders

Ending a tenancy

• Giving notice, bond refunds, tenant responsibilities

Special renting situations

Other things about renting

Getting in touch with us