The Residential Tenancies Act( RTA) 1986
The Residential Tenancies Act sets the foundation for how renting works in New Zealand. It outlines what landlords must provide, what tenants must do, and how concerns are resolved if they arise. The Act supports fair and respectful tenancies where everyone understands their obligations, and some of the key responsibilities of both parties are outlined below.
WHAT LANDLORDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:
• Providing the property in a reasonably clean and tidy condition at the start of the tenancy.
• Keeping the property in a reasonable state of repair throughout the tenancy.
• Ensuring the home meets building and health and safety requirements, including Healthy Homes Standards( HHS).
• Ensuring the property is secure, with working locks and safety features.
• Installing working smoke alarms.
• Giving the correct written notice before entering the property:
• 24 hours for repairs or maintenance( between 8am and 7pm).
• 48 hours for routine inspections.
• Respecting your privacy and quiet enjoyment of the home.
• Using the property lawfully and being considerate of neighbours.
• Not exceeding the number of occupants listed in your tenancy agreement.
• Leaving the property clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy and returning all keys and access devices.
• These responsibilities work together to help ensure the home remains safe, healthy, and enjoyable to live in throughout your tenancy.
These responsibilities work together to help ensure the home remains safe, healthy, and enjoyable to live in throughout your tenancy.
WHAT TENANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:
• Paying rent on time and in full.
• Keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy.
• Reporting maintenance issues or damage as soon as possible.
• Taking care to avoid damage and paying for any intentional or careless damage caused by you or your guests.
• Ensuring smoke alarms remain in working order and reporting any faults immediately( batteries must be replaced if removable).
TENANT INFORMATION GUIDE 19