Our Experts Answer:
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the Act), a fixed term tenancy cannot be ended by either party giving notice to terminate the contract before the agreed end date. Fixed-term tenancies can only be ended early by mutual agreement between the landlord and the tenant(s), if the property undergoes a mortgagee sale or by the Tenancy Tribunal in certain circumstances,. I suggest you discuss the matter with your tenant(s) to see if you can reach an agreement to end the term early. If all parties agree to terminate a fixed-term tenancy early (including any terms and conditions agreed to), the details of that agreement should be recorded in writing, preferably on the tenancy agreement. An application to the Tenancy Tribunal would require you to satisfy the adjudicator that there has been an unforeseen change in your circumstances that will cause you severe hardship if the tenancy is to continue. Your hardship must outweigh any hardship the tenant(s) would suffer, if the tenancy is ended early. The Tenancy Tribunal can consider awarding reasonable compensation to the tenant(s) in this situation. To discuss your situation further, or for information about ending a fixed term tenancy early, you can visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s website (www.dbh.govt.nz), or call 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262).
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