In 2025, several significant changes to New Zealand’s rental laws will come into effect. Both landlords and renters should be aware of these incoming changes, as they could impact your rights and responsibilities and your decision-making process when negotiating a rental agreement.
Landlords, you'll need to stay informed about these incoming tenancy laws—to ensure compliance when renting out your property. If you don’t, your tenants would have grounds to complain to the Tenancy Tribunal, which could result in legal penalties.
Some of these changes, such as the reintroduction of "no cause" terminations and the ability to charge pet bonds, also provide landlords with clearer guidelines on implementing and managing these new rules.
By understanding these regulations, landlords can also foster better relationships with tenants. The more informed you are, the less likely you are to be involved in a dispute. Smoother tenancies tend to result in longer stays by tenants (which is beneficial for everyone).
Staying updated on these changes helps landlords with financial planning, as they’ll need to account for things like potential pet-related damages or adjusted notice periods when managing their properties.
If you’re a tenant, you'll need to know what your new rights and responsibilities are when it comes to your current rental agreement.
Under these new laws, you’ll benefit from reduced notice periods. You can now end a periodic tenancy in just 21 days. This gives you an increased amount of flexibility. You should also know that there are new rules around keeping a pet in your home, and landlords can now charge a ‘pet bond.’
Being aware of these changes empowers you as a tenant and helps you make informed decisions about what type of housing and tenancy arrangement suits you the best.
As of January 30, 2025, landlords can end a periodic tenancy with 90 days' notice, without providing a specific reason. This reintroduction of “no cause” terminations means landlords have more flexibility when they need to end a tenancy.
Tenants will now only be required to give 21 days' notice when ending a periodic tenancy, offering them more flexibility as well.
Landlords can also give just 42 days' notice if the property is required for their own use. ‘Own use’ includes whether the landlord or a family member requires the property as their main residence for at least 90 days, or if the property is being sold.
Landlords can end a fixed-term tenancy at the end of its term without cause.
Another important change is that landlords can now end a fixed-term tenancy at the end of its term, without needing to give a reason.
These new rules give landlords more flexibility in managing their rental properties by ensuring that tenancy agreements don’t automatically renew unless both parties agree. Both tenants and landlords need to be aware of this change, so they can plan ahead for when a fixed-term tenancy is coming to an end.
In late 2025, landlords will be allowed to charge a pet bond—that can be up to the equivalent of two weeks' rent. This is aimed at covering any potential damages caused by pets.
If you’re a tenant, you’ll need to get written permission from your landlord before keeping pets on the premises, but landlords can only refuse consent on reasonable grounds.
Tenants will be responsible for any damages caused by their pets beyond fair wear and tear, so it’s important for both parties to understand their rights and responsibilities concerning pets.
One small change already in effect is the modernisation of tenancy bonds. Bonds must now be lodged online, which eliminates the need for signatures. This makes it easier for tenants to lodge their bonds online and forgo printing or scanning their bond forms.
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