Tenancy agreements must be in writing
Tenancy agreements must be in writing, and the landlord must give the tenant a signed copy before the tenancy starts.
Tenants should read the tenancy agreement carefully, and seek advice about anything they don’t understand before they sign.
Even if there is no formal agreement in writing, the Residential Tenancies Act still applies. Landlords and tenants cannot avoid their obligations by not putting their agreement in writing.
Addresses for service
The address for service is where any official documents, such as termination notices or information about any Tenancy Tribunal proceedings will be sent. A physical address for service must be provided on the tenancy agreement.
In March 2025 Tenancy Services updated their rules on how notices and documents can be given. The new rules allow landlords and tenants to also use an electronic address if it has been provided as an address for service in the tenancy agreement.
An electronic address for service can include:
- an email address
- a fax number
- a mobile number, or
- an instant messaging account through which information can be easily accessed and referred to.
Minimum information and statements
The tenancy agreement must include certain minimum information as well as certain statements about the property.
It is also a good idea to attach a property inspection report to the tenancy agreement recording any issues with the property before the tenancy starts.
Minimum information that must be included
The minimum details for a tenancy agreement are:
- the full names of the landlord and tenant(s):
- if the property is managed by a property manager, you should include the names of both the owner and the property management company as landlord. For example, "Smith Property Management as agent for Freda Jones".
- addresses for service - as well as a physical address the address for service can also include email, fax number, mobile, or instant message account details:
- if the landlord uses a property manager, you can record the property manager’s contact details as the landlord’s contact details.
- the address of the rental property
- the date the tenancy agreement is signed
- the tenancy start date (and end date if it is a fixed-term tenancy)
- whether the tenant is under 18 years
- the amount of any bond to be paid
- the amount and frequency of rent payments, and how they are to be paid, for example the bank account number, and
- any personal items or pieces of furniture provided by the landlord.
Find out more about the requirements tenancy agreements
An insulation statement
Landlords must either complete and include the Tenancy Services insulation statement form (link below) or attach a signed insulation statement containing the same information, to the tenancy agreement.
An insulation statement needs to include information about the location, type and condition of all insulation present in the premises.
If the landlord has not been able to get this information, their statement must say which information is missing, why they do not have it, and confirm that they made all reasonable efforts to get it.
Landlords can get an assessment of the insulation installed in their rental properties from an insulation provider.
Download and complete the Tenancy Services insulation statement (PDF, 852KB)
A Healthy Homes Standards current level of compliance statement
All new or renewed tenancy agreements must include a signed Healthy Homes Standards statement. This provides information about how well the rental property meets the healthy homes standards.
Download the Tenancy Services Healthy Homes Standards statement (PDF, 799KB)
All Kāinga Ora houses and registered Community Housing Provider houses must comply with the healthy homes standards from 1 July 2024. All private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards by 1 July 2025.
An insurance statement
Landlords, property managers and boarding house managers must complete and attach the Tenancy Services insurance statement form to the tenancy agreement.
Tenancy agreements signed on or after 27 August 2019 must include a signed statement from the landlord about whether or not the property is insured and if it is, what any excess amount is for any policies relevant to the tenant’s liability for damage. The statement must also say that a copy of the insurance policy is available to the tenant if they ask for it.
Download and complete the Tenancy Services insurance statement for (PDF, 811KB)
Your landlord can add some extra conditions
A landlord can add extra conditions to the tenancy agreement, for instance to reduce wear and tear or prevent damage to their property.
The conditions must not conflict with tenant’s rights under the Residential Tenancies Act, for instance, their right to quiet enjoyment of the rental properties.
Find out more about the conditions landlords can add to a tenancy agreement
Read about unenforceable and unlawful conditions that landlords cannot add to tenancy agreements
More information
Find out more about tenancy agreements
Tenancy Services has an online tool for building residential tenancy agreements:
