The Residential Tenancies Act 1986
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 , administered by the New Zealand Government ’ s Ministry of Business , Innovation and Employment , outlines the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants who are entering into a tenancy on a property in New Zealand .
The best way to prevent problems during your tenancy is by keeping in regular contact with your property manager and addressing any issues as soon as they arise .
It is also important for you to understand and follow your legal rights and responsibilities as a tenant under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 .
The Act states that as a tenant you must :
Pay the rent
It is your legal responsibility to pay your rent on time and as per the time-frames set out in your tenancy agreement . Rent should always be paid before the due date . If you have problems with your rent payments , or are aware of an upcoming issue , it is important that you notify your property manager immediately .
Even if you ’ re unhappy about something to do with the property , you still have to ensure you are always paying the rent on time . Failure to do so may not reflect well upon you in a Tenancy Tribunal situation and can affect your future in the tenancy .
Keep the property reasonably clean
As a tenant you are legally required to keep the property in a ‘ reasonably clean ’ condition . Staying on top of any cleaning and maintenance will ensure a good relationship with your property manager and an easier vacating process at the end of your tenancy .
Notify the property manager if something needs to be fixed
If something breaks down or goes wrong you need to tell your property manager immediately and also put it in writing to create a permanent record of the notification . If your repairs can be classed as an emergency , see the ‘ Emergency Repairs ’ section in this guide under ‘ General Information ’ ( page 22 ).
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