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66C: Content of boarding house tenancy agreements
or “What must be included in a boarding house rental agreement”
You could also call this:

“If you pay a small bond for your boarding house room, the landlord must give you a receipt and return your money when you leave, unless you owe them something.”

If you’re living in a boarding house and pay a bond that’s equal to or less than one week’s rent, there are special rules. You don’t need to send this bond to the government. Instead, your landlord must give you a receipt for it right away. This receipt needs to have certain information on it.

When you move out, your landlord should give you back your bond money. But they can keep some of it if you owe them money. This could be for unpaid rent, fixing damage you caused, replacing keys you lost, or paying for services they provided. They can also keep money for unpaid bills like gas, electricity, water, or phone.

If your landlord doesn’t give you back your bond, or if they keep more than you think is fair, you can ask the Tenancy Tribunal for help. The Tribunal can make a decision about what should happen with your bond money.

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Next up: 66E: Outgoings

or “The landlord pays for shared costs, while you pay for what you use in your own room.”
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Part 2A Boarding house tenancies
Boarding house tenancy agreements

66DBond of 1 week’s rent or less

  1. If 1 week’s rent or less is received as bond under a boarding house tenancy,—

  2. the bond need not be lodged with the chief executive, and sections 19 to 22D do not apply; and
    1. the landlord must immediately give the tenant a receipt for the bond, and the receipt must comply with section 19(1)(a); and
      1. the landlord must refund the bond to the tenant when the tenancy terminates.

        1. Despite subsection (1)(c), the landlord may retain out of a bond—

        2. any unpaid rent owing under the tenancy; and
          1. any other amount owing by the tenant to the landlord, such as (without limitation) costs associated with repairing damage attributable to the tenant, replacing lost keys, reimbursement for services provided by the landlord, or unpaid gas, electricity, water, or telephone charges.

            1. If the landlord does not refund the bond, or withholds more of the bond than the tenant considers is justified, the tenant may apply to the Tribunal for an order.

            Notes
            • Section 66D: inserted, on , by section 49 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 95).