Source: Consumer Affairs – New Zealand Government
Landlords and tenants will be affected by the recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Some of the changes took effect in August 2020 and others in February 2021.
The changes are broad and cover things like:
Rent increases
Rent increases are limited to once every 12 months (previously this was 180 days).
Rent increases and reductions(external link) — Tenancy Services
Ending tenancies
Landlords will not be able to end a periodic tenancy (a tenancy with no fixed-term end date) without cause by providing 90 days’ notice. There are also changes to how fixed-term tenancies signed on or after 11 February 2021 will end.
Giving notice to end a tenancy(external link) — Tenancy Services
Rental bidding
Rental properties cannot be advertised without a rental price listed, and landlords cannot encourage tenants to bid on the rental.
Prohibiting rental bidding(external link) — Tenancy Services
Making minor changes
Tenants can ask to make change to the property and landlords must not decline if the change is minor.
Tenants making changes to the property(external link) — Tenancy Services
Assigning tenancies
Requests by tenants to assign a tenancy must be considered.
Change of tenant(external link) — Tenancy Services
Make sure you’re up-to-date with your rights and responsibilities under tenancy law. See the Tenancy Services website for more information.
Law changes(external link) — Tenancy Services
