Short term tenancies

Our Experts Answer:

Offering short-fixed term tenancies for the purpose of avoiding notice requirements specified in the Residential Tenancies Act (the Act) may be considered an unlawful act by the Tenancy Tribunal, and may result in a penalty of up to $750. In the case of either a fixed-term or periodic tenancy, if a tenant is in breach of the Act, the landlord can give the tenant a 10 working days’ notice to remedy that breach.

If not complied with the landlord can seek termination through the Tenancy Tribunal. A template for a 10 working days’ notice can be downloaded from the Department of Building and Housing’s website (www.dbh.govt.nz). To discuss your situation further, or for information about applying to the Tenancy Tribunal, you can visit the Department Of Building and Housing website (www.dbh.govt.nz), or call 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262).

The Department of Building and Housing provides information and guidance on building law and compliance, services including weathertight homes, and advice for tenants and landlords.