Tenancy Laws are changing in NZ

Tenancy laws are changing in New Zealand.

If you own or rent, make sure you understand how these changes will impact you.

Below are some of the changes:

Increasing rent – From 12 August 2020, rent increases are limited to once every 12 months. This is a change from once every 180 days (six months).

Required notice periods are changing – If the landlord or a family member is moving in, the notice period is 63 days notice and if the property is being sold, landlords must give 90 days.

Ending periodic tenancies – Under the new law landlords cannot evict a tenant, without specific reasons. The following document by The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development shows a summary of changes: Residential Tenancies Act Reform – Summary of Changes.

Fixed-term tenancy agreements convert to periodic tenancies – when a fixed-term tenancy agreement expires, agreements must become periodic unless justified reasons apply or both parties agree to end the tenancy.

Assignment of tenancies – All requests to assign a tenancy must be considered. Landlords cannot decline unreasonably.

Making minor changes – Tenants can ask to make changes to the property and landlords must not decline if the change is minor.

No rental bidding – Properties must be listed with the rental price and landlords cannot invite or ask for offers to pay more than the advertised rent amount. Although tenants are still allowed to offer to pay more for a property if they want

Find out more on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s tenancy services website.