News

Tenant & Landlords Family Violence and Physical Assault Regulations finalised

Regulations have been finalised that support changes to tenancy law for family violence or physical assault during a tenancy.

The changes:

• enable tenants to withdraw from a tenancy by giving at least two days’ notice to a landlord where a tenant has been a victim of family violence during a tenancy. One qualifying form of evidence - which includes a statutory declaration from the withdrawing tenant, a written statement from a prescribed person, or a qualifying police document - must be sent with the notice to withdraw when provided to the landlord
• enable landlords to terminate a tenancy with at least 14 days’ written notice where the tenant physically assaults the landlord, the owner, a member of the landlord’s or owners' family, or the landlord's agent. Qualifying evidence, for example, the charging document or a letter from Police that a charge has been made against the tenant, will need to accompany the notice to terminate.

These provisions are currently able to be used, but the regulations to support the provisions come into effect on 29 December 2022. The regulations provide further clarity and guidance on how to use the provisions.

More information on the new regulations, the approved forms you'll need to provide, and other templates you may wish to use, are available on the Tenancy Services website.

Source:  www.tenancy.govt.nz