Getting the bond back

[Annie2018new]

Hi All,

My family and I planned to move to NZ this year 2020. But we are reluctant to do so, because of the Covid 19. We decided not to move over there until this pandemic is over. However we did signed a rental agreement in early Jan 2020. And we did talked to the landlord that in this crisis, we would like to terminate our rental agreement and asked for the refund on bond. Unfortunately, the landlord replied us that the bond would not be refunded to us.

Of course, we are upset by the landlord's reply. How we can talk to the landlord and at least get back some of the bond? Any advice.

[JandM]

Here https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/ending-a...ed-term-early/ is the legal situation, and the authority you can appeal to if you can't come to a mutually satisfactory agreement with the landlord.

Don't forget that the landlord is put to inconvenience and extra expense because of your breaking the lease, and is entitled to claim for this.

[Dave in NZ]

https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/about-te...o-know/#moving

Being a landlord myself I can see both sides of this .In NZ bonds are not kept by the landlord but paid to the govt.
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bon...arging-a-bond/

These are unprecedented times which is drastically effecting everything. Hopefully you can come to an agreement where you can get some of your bond back but it may well pay you to contact the govt here just for some advice , bear in mind that this may take some time for them to respond.
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/about-te...es/contact-us/

[desilva]

Hi All,

My family and I planned to move to NZ this year 2020. But we are reluctant to do so, because of the Covid 19. We decided not to move over there until this pandemic is over. However we did signed a rental agreement in early Jan 2020. And we did talked to the landlord that in this crisis, we would like to terminate our rental agreement and asked for the refund on bond. Unfortunately, the landlord replied us that the bond would not be refunded to us.

Of course, we are upset by the landlord's reply. How we can talk to the landlord and at least get back some of the bond? Any advice.

ring the tenancy tribunal and seek their advice. also try to talk to landlord as well and negotiate with him but also make him aware that you will be talking to tenancy tribunal. technically if you signed up for fixed term contract, then you may have to pay lease breaking fee and rental fee till the landloard finds another tenant. however, do not send any signed bond refund form to the owner yet. otherwise he may claim your bond refund