TENANCY LAW CHANGES

By Juli Anne Tolley, Principal owner Quinovic Tauranga.

Significant changes to tenancy laws are coming in 2025, and it’s important to stay informed about how these updates might shape tenancy renewals and property management.

Starting 30 January 2025, landlords will have the option to end periodic tenancies with greater flexibility. A 90-day notice can be issued without stating a reason, a policy previously removed but now reinstated. For specific situations—such as the landlord or a family member needing the property, the property being sold with a requirement for vacant possession, or the property being needed for staff accommodation—landlords can issue a 42-day notice.

Tenants will also see changes, with the notice period for ending a periodic tenancy being shortened from 28 to 21 days. Additionally, fixed-term tenancies have been restored to their previous definition of being fixed for a specific time period. However, it is important to note that they will automatically convert to periodic tenancies unless notice is given between 90 and 21 days before the fixed term ends or both parties agree on an alternative arrangement. This means tenancy renewals may look a little different.

Further updates will be available later in 2025, including indoor smoking bans, updated family violence provisions, and clearer rules around pets in rentals, including the option for pet bonds.

We’ll handle these changes for you, ensuring your tenancy agreements remain compliant and guiding you through any updates that may impact your property. If you have questions or want to understand how these changes may impact your property, please don’t hesitate to contact your property manager. We also recommend checking out Tenancy Services’ resource for more details: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/law-changes/.

By staying informed and engaged, we can navigate these changes confidently together, ensuring your property continues to perform well and remains a successful investment.