Tips to Ending a Tenancy

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Two Types of Tenancies

There are two types of tenancy agreement in New Zealand which are explained below:

1. Periodic Tenancy - This agreement has no "end date" and at least 21 days notice can be given by the tenant at any stage.  If you are on a periodic tenancy and would like to give notice, please either write to us or send an email to your Property Manager. A phone call to check we have received it is also wise.  
   
   
2. Fixed Term Tenancy - The tenancy will run until a certain agreed date. Tenants may end the tenancy sooner only by mutual agreement or with an order from the Tenancy Tribunal.  At Tribunal, tenants must prove that they have suffered unforeseen circumstances causing undue hardship (greater than that the landlord will suffer from a vacancy).

Further information about giving notice can be found on the DBH website and we recommend you seek independent advice from DBH by calling 0800TENANCY (0800 83 62 62).

Should you want to break your legally binding fixed term tenancy agreement, please contact your property manager sooner rather than later to discuss your individual circumstances - we may be able to work something out.

At the end of any tenancy, we expect the property to be left clean and tidy with all rubbish removed, and in accordance with any other clauses on your tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.  Failure to do so may see exemplary damages awarded on top of any costs.  To guide you in what needs to be completed, download and follow our Tenant Vacating Guidelines.

Getting Your Full Bond Back

One of our favourites things to do is approve a full bond refund for our tenants.  It's right up there with giving a glowing reference.  It means all the rent was paid up to date, there was no cleaning or damages to the property, and everything that should have been there was, and nothing was there that shouldn't have been.  All the keys were returned.  All the light bulbs and smoke alarms were working.  Lawns and gardens were freshly tended.  Any expenses owning to us were paid.  There were no breaches of the tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancies Act, such as overcrowding, or failing to leave the property on the final date.

We take a lot of photos of properties at the beginning of the tenancy and that is to protect both you and the property owner against damage claims.  At the end of the tenancy we do a final inspection and compare the condition with the initial property photos.  If there is a change, we ask ourselves 'is that fair wear and tear?'.  If the answer is yes, then there is no problem releasing the bond.  As an example, 3 small paint chips is probably fair wear and tear.  A groove carved into the wall by your couch rubbing for a year is not.  We do not consider carpet stains fair wear and tear, but flattened carpet pile may be.

You have a right to occupy the property right up to midnight on the final date of your lease. After that, you are expected to return it clean and tidy.  You do not have a right to access the property after the lease end, so plan to do your cleaning and any repairs early.  If we need to sort out any issues after your lease end date, we do not need to get quotes or your approval for expenditure to set it right, so don't leave us any problems.  We are happy to help if you need a recommendation for a trades person, so please ask us.

If you do need to fix something, and it isn't done to 'tradesperson-like standard' we will need to get it corrected at your cost, so be careful who you get to help you do any repairs.

We are happy to help with any questions you have about what to do at your property in order to get your bond back in full.  Please get in touch with your property manager to discuss any specific issues.

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