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Rent, bond and other costs

Other fees and costs

Can the landlord get me to pay a letting fee or other fee on top of rent and bond?

Residential Tenancies Act 1986, s 17A

The landlord can’t require you to pay any of the following kinds of fees:

  • Letting fees – this is a fee charged by a real estate agent or property manager for arranging the tenancy, usually one week’s rent. The landlord has to pay this fee, and can’t pass it on to you the tenant.
  • Lawyer’s fees – for example, for the costs of drawing up the tenancy agreement
  • “Key money” – this means a payment to the landlord simply because they’re agreeing to rent the place to you.

When you first look at a place, you can agree with the landlord that you’ll pay them one week’s rent for an option to rent it – sometimes called an “option fee”. But if you do then decide to rent the place, the landlord has to refund you that money or put it towards the rent – they can’t keep it as a payment on top of the rent.

You’re responsible for power, phone, and so on

Residential Tenancies Act 1986, ss 39(4), 40(1)(a)

You, the tenant, are responsible for paying the charges for the electricity, gas, phone and internet that you actually use. You’re also responsible for paying water charges if the water supplier charges by how much is used.

Next Section | Living in your house or flat: Rights and obligations

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Tenancy and housing

Where to go for more support

Community Law

Your local Community Law Centre can provide you with free initial legal advice.

Find your local Community Law Centre online: www.communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres

Tenancy Services – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

MBIE’s Tenancy Services section provides information to tenants and to landlords. It also provides dispute-resolution services. Free translation services are available.

Website: www.tenancy.govt.nz
Tenancy advice: 0800 83 62 62 (0800 TENANCY).
Bond enquiries: 0800 737 666.

Ministry of Social Development – Work and Income (WINZ)

Work and Income assess eligibility for social housing provided by Kāinga Ora and other registered community housing providers. WINZ also calculates income-related rent for social housing and conducts tenancy reviews.

Website: www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/index.html
Phone: 0800 559 009
No where to stay: www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/nowhere-to-stay/index.html
Who can get public housing: www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/find-a-house/who-can-get-public-housing.html
Apply for public housing: www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/find-a-house/apply-for-public-housing.html

Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand)

Kāinga Ora manages New Zealand’s public housing and places people in public homes.  Kāinga Ora’s website provides information for existing and prospective tenants.

Website: www.kaingaora.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 801 601
Office locations: kaingaora.govt.nz/our-locations
When to contact Kāinga Ora vs Work and Income resource: kaingaora.govt.nz/tenants-and-communities/renting-a-home

Note: to apply for a Kāinga Ora home, you need to contact Work and Income – “Ministry of Social Development – Work and Income (WINZ)” above.

Tenancy Tribunal

The Tenancy Tribunal can help you if you have an issue with a tenant or landlord that you can’t solve yourself. The Tribunal will hear both sides of the argument and can issue an order that is legally binding.

Information on how to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal: www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/Tribunal/making-an-application

Aratohu Tenant Advocacy

The Aratohu Tenant Advocacy is a comprehensive online resource that provides support and guidance to tenants and their advocates.

Website: tenant.aratohu.nz
Email: admin@cab.org.nz

Tenants Protection Association Auckland (TPA)

The Tenants Protection Association provides advocacy and support to renters in Auckland.

Website: tpaauckland.org.nz
Phone: 09 360 1473

Manawatū Tenants’ Union

The Manawatū Tenants’ Union provides advocacy and support to renters in the Manawatū region.

Website: www.mtu.org.nz
Email: info@mtu.org.nz
Phone: 06 357 7435

Renters United

Renters United is an organisation for renters in Wellington. They focus on organising renters and campaigning to make renting better for everyone.

Website: rentersunited.org.nz
Online contact form: rentersunited.org.nz/contact
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fairrentnow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rentersunitednz

Community Housing Regulatory Authority

The Community Housing Regulatory Authority registers and regulates community housing providers.

Website: chra.hud.govt.nz
Email: CHRA@hud.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 141 411

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

CAB provides free, confidential and independent information and advice.  See CAB’s website for valuable information on a range of topics.

Website: www.cab.org.nz
Phone: 0800 367 222
Facebook: www.facebook.com/citizensadvicenz

Find your local CAB office: www.cab.org.nz/find-a-cab

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