Reasonably clean and tidy: the standard when you leave
Renting in New Zealand runs under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and Tenancy Services, part of MBIE, runs tenancy.govt.nz and holds bonds. Its moving out page says the property needs to be reasonably clean and tidy when you leave, and your belongings and rubbish have to go.
A 2026 Tenancy Tribunal order spells out the same duties and cites section 40 of the Act: leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, return all keys and security devices, and leave the chattels that came with the place.
Cleaning conditions a tenancy agreement can and can't set
| What the agreement says | What Tenancy Services says | |
|---|---|---|
| The rental must be cleaned by a cleaning company at the end | An example of a condition that could breach the law | |
| Carpets must be professionally cleaned at the end | An unenforceable clause, unless it's a pet consent condition | |
| The carpet is cleaned to a professional standard, for a pet allowed indoors | A reasonable condition a landlord can set when agreeing to a pet | |
| Leave the place reasonably clean and tidy | The standard every tenant has to meet |
Your tenancy bond and how it's lodged
A landlord can charge a general bond of up to 4 weeks' rent and must lodge it with Tenancy Services. If you paid it to the landlord, they have 23 working days from receiving it to lodge it.
Since 1 December 2025 a landlord can also charge a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent, on top of the general bond, and only one pet bond per tenancy. The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 made those pet changes.
Moving out to your bond refund, step by step
Read the start of your tenancy
Find the property inspection report from moving in. Tenancy Services recommends a joint inspection at the start, and you can't be blamed for damage that was recorded then.
Clear the place
Take your belongings and your rubbish, and hand back every key and security device.
Clean to the standard
Reasonably clean and tidy is the test. You can do it yourself or get someone in, whichever suits your week.
Do the final inspection
Tenancy Services suggests a final inspection after you've moved out and cleaned. If you can't do it together, you should each do your own, and photos are a good idea.
Ask for your bond refund through Bond Hub
Tenancy Services says to accept the refund only if you agree with the amount.
If you can't agree
Either side can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal about the bond. The application fee is $29.
Fair wear and tear, or damage to the rental
Tenancy Services describes fair wear and tear as the gradual deterioration of things used regularly in a property. Burn marks or drink stains on carpet aren't normally fair wear and tear.
If a tenant or their guest carelessly damages the property, the tenant is liable for the cost up to 4 weeks' rent or the landlord's insurance excess, whichever is lower. For pet damage beyond fair wear and tear, the tenant is liable for the full cost, and that includes fleas brought in by a pet.
Damp, mould and the healthy homes standards
Every rental has had to meet the healthy homes standards since 1 July 2025, and landlords are responsible for meeting them. Kitchens and bathrooms need an extractor fan venting outside.
Tenancy Services tells tenants to air the home, use the extractor fans, wipe condensation and remove mould as soon as it appears. Doing that through the tenancy makes the last clean a lot smaller.
Our NZ bond refund advice: start with the inspection report
Start with the inspection report from the day you moved in. It decides what reasonably clean and tidy looks like for your flat, it protects you from damage that was already there, and it tells you whether the carpets really need a steam clean or can be left alone.