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The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill is now law

Anna
21 August 2020

The Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2020 received Royal Assent on 11th August 2020 and is now law. Here are the details.

After almost two years since the controversial tenancy law reform has been announced, the new law has passed and certainly re-wrote the rules for NZ landlords.

The major reforms contained in the Bill would:

Remove 90-day no-cause terminations

Landlords will not be able to end a periodic tenancy without reason making it more difficult and time-consuming for landlords to remove problematic tenants. The list of approved reasons for terminating tenancies under the RTA will include:

  • Tenants are 21-days behind on rent (application to the Tenancy Tribunal)

  • Repeated rent arrears. Tenants have been over 5 days behind on rent at least 3 times in a 90-day period (application to the Tenancy Tribunal)

  • Repeated anti-social behaviour. Tenants displayed anti-social behaviour at least 3 times in a 90-day period (application to the Tenancy Tribunal)

  • Hardship relief (application to the Tenancy Tribunal)

  • The property owner or a family member is moving into the property (63-day notice)

  • The landlord's employee needs to use the premises (63-day notice)

  • The property has been put for sale (90-day notice, which has been extended from 42 days)

  • The property was sold, and the new owner wants to move in (90-day notice)

  • The landlord is planning to conduct extensive alternations, repairs or redevelopment of the property making it impracticable for tenants to continue living on the premises (90-day notice)

  • The property is going to be demolished (90-day notice)

  • The property is to be used for commercial purposes or was acquired to facilitate the use of nearby land for commercial purposes (90-day notice)

Require that fixed-term tenancies automatically converting to periodic on expiry unless both parties agree that the tenancy will end

If the landlord doesn't want to continue with the tenancy, then they must use one of the grounds specified above to end the tenancy. If the tenant doesn't want the tenancy to continue, they can give notice between 28 days and 90 days before the end of the fixed term period.

Ban rent bidding

The landlords will not be able to invite or encourage tenants to bid on the rental (pay more than the advertised rent amount). Advertising a property without a rental price will be prohibited.

Limit rent increases to once a year

The minimum period between rent increases will now be twelve months as opposed to every six months.

Allow tenants to make minor alterations to a rental property

Landlords will be required in most instances to permit the installation of ultra-fast broadband and allow other minor alterations to houses such as baby-proofing, hanging pictures, and earthquake proofing.

Allow tenants to request assigning a tenancy to someone else

All requests to assign a tenancy (including fixed-term tenancy) must be considered. Landlords cannot decline unreasonably. If a residential tenancy agreement prohibits assignment, it will be of no effect.

These are big changes that certainly will affect both tenants and landlords.

The bulk of the reforms will come into effect in six months on 11th February 2021 to give tenants and landlords time to prepare for the new rules. But the 12-monthly limit on rent increases has come into effect as of 12th August 2020 in a bid to help tenants who are struggling financially as a result of Covid-19.


The information contained in this article is exclusively for promotional purposes. It does not in any way constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any legal action or contractual dealings. The information is not and does not attempt to be, a comprehensive account of the relevant law in New Zealand. If you require legal advice, you should seek independent legal counsel. myRent.co.nz does not accept any liability that may arise from the use of this information.

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What the community has to say
  • MB
    Meeshall

    Most of these changes are good for tenants; that's not a bad thing...if you are a good landlord, who properly checks tenants before signing, you are unlikely to have any issues with the above.

  • DM
    D

    I have called Tenancy Services they have advised that the 90 day notice rule does not come into effect until Feb 2021...

  • AS
    Anna

    Hi D, you're right. The bill has become law but as per our article but the bulk of the reforms will come into effect on 11th February 2021 including the 90-day notice rule. But the 12-monthly limit on rent increases has come into effect as of 12th August 2020.

  • JA
    Jono

    So I assume that mutually agreeing on a new fixed term tenancy is permitted? And what if it is preferred by the landlord but the tenant would rather a periodic?

  • AS
    Anna

    Hi Jono, yes it looks like if both parties are happy to renew for another fixed term, it's fine. But if you can't agree, then the tenancy will become periodic. A landlord can give notice using the reasons listed in the RTA for periodic tenancies.

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