Residential tenancy law has moved fast over the past two years, and by 2026 several of those changes are now fully in force, with two more taking effect later this year. #

Between updated notice periods, new pet rules, a change to how the Tenancy Tribunal handles paperwork, Healthy Homes obligations and a new meth contamination regime, there's a lot for both sides of a tenancy to keep track of. Whether you're renting out a property or renting one, here's what's changed and what it means for you. 

Ending a tenancy: notice periods (in force since January 2025) #

It's worth restating these because they still trip people up from time to time. For periodic tenancies, landlords can end a tenancy without giving a reason on 90 days' notice, or on 42 days' notice in specific situations such as: the owner or a family member is moving in, the property is being sold with vacant possession required, or the property is needed for an employee. Tenants ending a periodic tenancy need to give 21 days' notice. Fixed-term tenancies now roll over into periodic tenancies automatically at the end of the term, unless notice to end them is given between 90 and 21 days beforehand. 

Pets in rental properties (in force since December 2025) #

Tenants can now ask to keep a pet, and landlords need a reasonable basis to say no. Consent should be recorded in writing, and landlords can attach reasonable conditions, such as professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy. Where consent is given, landlords can charge a pet bond of up to two weeks' rent, in addition to the usual bond, which is capped at one pet, regardless of how many pets are approved. Assistance dogs are exempt from both the consent process and the pet bond. Pets that were already living in a property lawfully before the change don't need new consent, so existing arrangements carry over unchanged. 

On a related practical note, bond lodgements are now handled fully online, with the requirement for physical signatures dropped at the end of 2024. Manual, paper-based lodgements by post or email are no longer accepted, so both landlords and tenants need a Tenancy Services online account to lodge, transfer or refund a bond. 

Tenancy Tribunal document sharing (from 1 January 2026) #

Since the start of the year, the Tenancy Tribunal has changed how it handles paperwork submitted for a case. Almost all documents provided to the Tribunal, including things like property management agreements and insurance policies, are now shared with the other party as a matter of course, replacing the previous, more limited approach to confidentiality. Medical or other sensitive information submitted only to support a request for an adjournment stays private, but medical evidence that forms part of the actual claim will be disclosed. 

Anyone preparing documents for the Tribunal should remove irrelevant personal details, such as dates of birth or bank account numbers, before submitting them. If sharing someone's identity could put them at risk, it's possible to apply for a suppression order rather than leaving out evidence that matters to the case. 

Healthy Homes Standards: Full compliance now applies #

This isn't a new change for 2026, but it's an important reminder: since 1 July 2025, every private rental property in New Zealand has been required to meet the Healthy Homes Standards, covering heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping. Boarding houses and Kāinga Ora or community housing provider properties had earlier compliance deadlines. Landlords who don't comply can face penalties, and this is now enforced across the whole private rental market rather than being phased in region by region or landlord by landlord. 

New meth contamination rules (from 16 April 2026) #

New regulations set clear thresholds for methamphetamine contamination for the first time. A property is contaminated if residue is above 15 micrograms per 100cm² and must be decontaminated below that level; above 30 micrograms per 100cm², it's treated as uninhabitable. Landlords must arrange testing where contamination is suspected and pass results to tenants within seven days. Where a property is ruled uninhabitable, a not-at-fault landlord can end the tenancy on seven days' notice and a not-at-fault tenant on two days' notice; otherwise, rent is reduced proportionally. Non-compliance can carry penalties.

What does this mean in practice?#

For landlords, the common thread is documentation. Written pet consent, timely disclosure of test results, Healthy Homes compliance statements and correctly worded termination notices are all now expected as standard. It's worth reviewing tenancy agreement templates to make sure notice clauses, pet conditions and bond arrangements reflect the current rules, and budgeting for the possibility of meth testing or decontamination costs, particularly at the start or end of a tenancy. 

For renters, the changes generally make it easier to keep a pet and give more certainty around notice periods, but they also mean less privacy if a dispute goes to the Tribunal, since more of what you submit will be seen by the other party. It's worth asking upfront, before signing, whether a property has ever tested positive for contamination and what the Healthy Homes compliance statement says, since landlords are required to include one with the tenancy agreement. If you're ever told a property may be contaminated or unsafe, you have the right to ask for test results and to understand your options, including a rent reduction or the ability to end the tenancy. 

Tenancy law can be detailed and it does keep changing, so if you're dealing with a specific situation, it's worth checking the current guidance on tenancy.govt.nz or getting independent legal advice rather than relying on a general summary like this one.