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Residential Tenancy Agreement (Tenancy Services template)
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NZ Residential Tenancy Agreement in short
The Residential Tenancy Agreement is the free template from Tenancy Services that New Zealand landlords and tenants can use to put a tenancy in writing. It includes an outline of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the agreement itself, an insurance statement, a healthy homes standards compliance statement and a property inspection report. Tenancy agreements must be in writing, and the landlord must give the tenant a signed copy before the tenancy starts.
| Issued by | Tenancy Services, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Version 11/25 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | The landlord and the tenant or tenants complete and sign it. Landlords can also write their own agreement or use the online agreement builder, as long as it includes the minimum information required by the Act. |
| Who receives it | Each party keeps a copy. It is not lodged with Tenancy Services, but any bond paid must be lodged with MBIE. |
| Where to send it | Nowhere. The landlord gives the tenant a signed copy before the tenancy starts. If a bond is paid, it must be lodged with Tenancy Services within 23 working days of being paid. |
| Deadline | The signed copy must go to the tenant before the tenancy starts. Bonds must be lodged within 23 working days of being paid. |
| Fee | The template is free. The form says letting fees cannot be charged to tenants. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
This version includes a pet bond box next to the general bond and an outline of the pet rules: tenants must ask for consent to keep a pet, the landlord must respond within 21 days and must say yes unless there are reasonable grounds to say no. The form says a landlord may require a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent.
How to fill out NZ Residential Tenancy Agreement, line by line
| Page 6 | Landlord details Names, physical address for service in New Zealand, email, phone and any additional address for service. The form says this section must be filled in. |
| Page 6 | Tenant details Names, ID type and number, address for service, email and phone, and whether any tenant is under 18. |
| Page 6 | Tenancy details Address of the tenancy, rent per week and frequency, general bond, pet bond, total bond, and how and where rent is paid. Attach body corporate rules for unit title properties. |
| Page 7, item 1 and 2 | Start date and type of tenancy Enter the start date. Strike out one option: periodic, or fixed term with an end date. Fixed terms longer than 90 days become periodic at the end unless notice is given 90 to 21 days before the end, or both agree otherwise. |
| Page 7, item 3 | Subletting Strike out the bold wording if it does not apply. Assignment can only be prohibited by some social housing landlords. |
| Page 7, item 4 | Other terms Extra terms such as pet consent and conditions, no smoking indoors or a maximum number of occupants. Terms contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 are not valid. |
| Page 7 | Signatures The landlord and each tenant sign and date to show they agree to all terms and have read the notes on pages 2, 3 and 4. |
| Page 8 | Insurance statement Whether the property is insured for damage relevant to the tenant's liability, and the excess amounts of each relevant policy. |
| Pages 9 to 24 | Healthy homes standards compliance statement The landlord's statement on heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping, including any exemptions. It needs its own signature. |
| Pages 25 and 26 | Property inspection report and rent and bond receipt Condition of each room at the start, smoke alarm check, chattels list, water meter reading, and a receipt for initial rent and bond. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not giving the tenant a signed copy before the tenancy starts.
- Leaving out the healthy homes compliance statement or the insurance statement, which must be part of new tenancy agreements.
- Forgetting to strike out either the periodic or the fixed term option on page 7.
- Asking for more than 4 weeks' rent as general bond or more than 2 weeks' rent as pet bond.
- Not lodging the bond with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.
- Adding terms that are contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, such as a clause banning assignment in a private tenancy.
- Not attaching body corporate rules for a unit title property.
- Signing the property inspection report without agreeing with all its details. The form says not to sign unless you agree.
Questions about NZ Residential Tenancy Agreement
Does a tenancy agreement have to be in writing in New Zealand?
Yes. Tenancy Services says tenancy agreements must be in writing. Even without a written agreement, the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 still applies.
Do I have to use this template?
No. Landlords can write their own agreement or use the online agreement builder, as long as it includes the minimum information required by the Act and the required statements.
How much bond can a landlord ask for?
The form says bonds are not compulsory, but a landlord may require a general bond of up to 4 weeks' rent and a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent. The bond must be lodged with MBIE within 23 working days.
How much notice is needed to end a periodic tenancy?
The form says tenants must give at least 21 days' written notice. Landlords can end a periodic tenancy without a reason by giving 90 days' written notice, or 42 days' notice for listed reasons such as the owner moving in.
Can the rent be increased?
The form says 60 days' written notice is needed and rent cannot be increased within 12 months of the start of the tenancy or the last increase. In a fixed term, an increase must be provided for in the agreement.
Can we sign it electronically?
Tenancy Services says the rules for electronic signatures are set out in the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the Tenancy Services, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.