Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Boarding house tenancies - House rules

66O: Landlord may make house rules

You could also call this:

“The owner of a boarding house can make and change rules about how to use the house and its services, as long as the rules are fair and legal.”

If you live in a boarding house, the landlord can make rules about how you use and enjoy the place. These are called house rules. The landlord can also make rules about the services they provide.

The landlord’s rules must follow the law. They can’t ask you to do anything illegal. For example, the rules can’t treat people unfairly based on things like their race or gender. This would go against the Human Rights Act 1993. The rules also can’t break the Privacy Act 2020.

Your landlord can change the house rules at any time. But if they make a new rule, they must tell you about it in writing at least 7 days before it starts.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3283917.

Topics:
Housing and property > Renting
Rights and equality > Anti-discrimination
Rights and equality > Privacy
Previous

66N: Mitigation of damage or loss, or

“If someone breaks the rules, you need to try your best to stop things from getting worse.”

Next

66P: What tenant may do if he or she objects to house rules, or

“A tenant can ask a special court to change or remove unfair house rules.”

Part 2A Boarding house tenancies
House rules

66OLandlord may make house rules

  1. The landlord of a boarding house may make house rules relating to—

  2. the use and enjoyment of the premises; and
    1. the provision of services.

      1. No house rule may—

      2. be inconsistent with this Act; or
        1. require or purport to permit anything that is or would be illegal and, in particular, must not—
          1. require or permit any form of discrimination in contravention of the Human Rights Act 1993; or
            1. purport to permit anything that would breach the Privacy Act 2020.

            2. The landlord may at any time change the house rules, but a new house rule does not come into effect until the landlord has given each tenant of the boarding house at least 7 days’ written notice of the new house rule.

            Compare
              Notes
              • Section 66O: inserted, on , by section 49 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 95).
              • Section 66O(2)(b)(ii): amended, on , by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).