Bond Refund NZ: How to Get Your Rental Bond Back
Your rental bond is not held by your landlord. It is lodged with Tenancy Services, and getting it back at the end of a tenancy now runs through an online system called Bond Hub.
This page is general information about New Zealand law, not legal advice. For your own situation, consult a lawyer or your local Community Law centre.
Why Tenancy Services holds your bond
When you pay a bond at the start of a tenancy, your landlord does not keep it. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the landlord must lodge the bond with Tenancy Services, which holds it as an independent custodian for the length of the tenancy. A landlord has 23 working days from receiving the bond to lodge it, and can face a financial penalty for lodging it late.
The maximum general bond a landlord can charge is 4 weeks' rent. If the landlord has agreed to a pet living at the property, they can also charge a separate pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent, a change that took effect on 1 December 2025. A landlord can only charge one pet bond per tenancy, even if the tenant has consent for more than one pet.
Bond Hub is now the only way to process a refund
Tenancy Services moved bond transactions onto an online platform called Bond Hub. From 29 June 2026, the paper forms for a bond refund, a change of tenant, and a change of landlord are no longer available. Landlords must now submit these transactions through Bond Hub or through property management software that connects to it.
How to get your bond refunded
The quickest way to get your bond back is to ask your landlord to submit the refund request. Once they do, if your contact details are up to date in Bond Hub, you will be notified by email or text and have 12 working days to confirm the request. After a completed request is confirmed, Tenancy Services generally processes the refund within 10 working days, paying it into the bank account you specify.
Keep your unique tenant number safe, and make sure your email address and phone number in Bond Hub are current, since that is how you will be notified about a refund request. If you have not heard about a refund you are expecting, you can contact Tenancy Services on 0800 836 262.
If you and your landlord disagree
If the landlord and tenant cannot agree on how much of the bond should be paid to each side, for example because the landlord wants to claim against it for damage or unpaid rent, either party can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. A Tenancy Services mediator can also help the two sides reach agreement before it goes that far. See the tenancy and renting hub for more on how the Tribunal works and what it costs to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually holds my bond, the landlord or the government?
Neither in the everyday sense. Your landlord must lodge the bond with Tenancy Services, a government body, which holds it independently for the length of the tenancy. The landlord cannot access it during the tenancy.
How do I apply for my bond refund?
Ask your landlord to submit the refund request in Bond Hub, which is the quickest route. If they submit it, you then confirm it in Bond Hub within 12 working days. Since 29 June 2026, paper refund forms are no longer available, so the request has to go through Bond Hub or connected property management software.
How long does a bond refund take?
Once a completed refund request is confirmed by both parties, Tenancy Services generally processes it within 10 working days and pays it to the bank account provided.
What happens if my landlord and I cannot agree on the refund amount?
Either party can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to resolve the disagreement. A Tenancy Services mediator can also help the parties reach an agreement before a formal hearing.
Is there a separate bond for pets?
Yes. Since 1 December 2025, a landlord who consents to a pet can charge a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent, on top of the general bond of up to 4 weeks' rent. Only one pet bond can be charged per tenancy.
Sources and References
- Tenancy Services - Bond (overview)(tenancy.govt.nz).gov
- Tenancy Services - About lodging a bond(tenancy.govt.nz).gov
- Tenancy Services - How to apply for a bond refund(tenancy.govt.nz).gov
- Tenancy Services - Tenants: bond refunds are online(tenancy.govt.nz).gov
- Tenancy Services - Landlords: bond refunds are now online(tenancy.govt.nz).gov
- Tenancy Services - Charging a pet bond(tenancy.govt.nz).gov