NEW TENANCY LAW REFORMS IMPACT
The Government’s controversial tenancy law reforms will be coming into force next year, despite strong opposition from landlord and property groups. The changes are designed to bring the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 up-to-date, to “modernise our rental laws and align them with present-day realities for the around 600,000 households which rent in New Zealand,” said Kris Faafoi, Associate Minister of Housing, in a statement. “Renters should be able to put down roots in their community and not face the stress of continually having to find a new home.”
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES TO TENANCIES?
The changes under the new Act, in summary.
• Landlords can no longer terminate a tenancy without cause using a 90-day notice.
• For periodic tenancies, a 14-day notice can be issued if the tenant assaults the landlord, owner, landlord’s family member or agent – and the police have laid a charge against the tenant. The tenant can challenge the notice in the Tenancy Tribunal.
