Our currentResidential Tenancy Act has been in force since 1986 and the rental property market has changed a lot since then. While a number of changes were introduced in 2020 under the Government’s emergency legislative powers, further significant amendments were made to the legislation in 2021.

The reforms initially proposed by MBIE aim to balance the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, which are often polar opposites. The need to modernise our current legislation was also recognised to ensure it can adequately respond to changing trends in the modern rental market with house prices getting further out of reach for growing numbers of tenants and the knock-on effects of Covid-19affecting residential tenancies.

The most significant changes included in the reform include removing fixed-term tenancies, removing the ability for landlords to end periodic tenancies without reason; extending the notice period from 42 to 90 days; allowing tenants to request minor changes to be made to the property; privacy for tenants when accessing justice and giving tenants the ability to request fibre broadband be connected if there is no cost to the landlord, among other changes.

If you are either a landlord or tenant and have questions or concerns, please contact the office.