Further changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the Act) came into force on 20 March 2025 following the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 in December 2024.  

Changes to the Act which came into force on 20 March 2025 include:  

• modernising how parties can agree to communicate and serve notices to include electronic addresses, e.g. email address, fax number, mobile telephone number, or instant messaging 
• clarification that clauses in a tenancy agreement banning smoking (of smoked tobacco products) indoors, except for in outbuildings, are enforceable 
• if an email address was included as an address for service in a tenancy agreement it can be used for up to 2 years after the tenancy ends in a Tenancy Tribunal application 
• if deemed appropriate after considering the application, the Tenancy Tribunal adjudicator can decide to conduct the proceeding based on the application and supporting documents without the need for parties to attend the hearing but will take into account the parties’ views 
• if a tenant or their child/dependant experiences family violence during a tenancy, they can withdraw from the tenancy by giving at least 2 days’ notice (with qualifying evidence of family violence) without financial penalty or the need for agreement from the landlord. 

These changes follow the tenancy terminations law changes which came into force on 30 January 2025.  
tenancy.govt.nz.