My landlord wants 6 weeks' rent as a security deposit. Is that legal?
No. A general bond can be no more than 4 weeks' rent, so 6 weeks does not follow the rules. A separate pet bond can be no more than 2 weeks' rent. If you are unsure, call Tenancy Services on 0800 836 262 before you sign.
Official figures
- Maximum general bond
- No more than 4 weeks' rent1
- Maximum pet bond
- No more than 2 weeks' rent1
- Deadline for the landlord to lodge the bond
- If you pay the bond to your landlord, they must lodge it with Tenancy Services within 23 working days of receiving it1
- No lodgement notice received
- If you have not received a notice that your bond is lodged within 6 weeks, contact your landlord to check1
- Maximum rent in advance
- No more than 2 weeks' rent. Your landlord cannot ask for more rent until the rent you paid in advance is used up4
Official sources
- Preventing problems with bondsTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
- Refunding a general bondTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
- How to apply for a bond refundTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
- Charging rentTenancy Services (MBIE) · tenancy.govt.nz
Read the full guide: Rental bond: how much you pay, how to check it and how to get it back →
People also ask
- I paid the bond to my landlord. How do I know they lodged it with Tenancy Services?
- How do I get my bond back after I move out, and how long does it take?
- My landlord wants to keep part of my bond for cleaning and I don't agree. What can I do?
- Can my landlord ask me to pay one month's rent in advance?
- Do I have to pay an extra bond if I have a pet? What is the maximum?
- How do I apply to the Tenancy Tribunal about a bond dispute, and how much does it cost?
Answers are based on official New Zealand government pages. Check the official source before you act. This is not immigration, legal or tax advice.
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