There are 2 ways to apply for a bond refund:

• landlords can use their property management software (PMS), or
• landlords and tenants can complete the ‘Bond refund’ form and email or post it to Tenancy Services.

Tenants should talk to their landlords about the best way to apply for a bond refund.

Refund using property management software

If the landlord uses property management software (PMS) that is integrated with our system, they can arrange for a bond refund using that software. The tenant must have an email address to arrange a refund using PMS.

Using property management software to complete bond transactions

The tenant will get an email with a link to a Tenancy Services page and a one-time verification code.

The tenant will need to select the link to go to the Tenancy Services page and enter:

• the one-time verification code, and
• their Tenant Number for the tenancy.

The tenant can then accept or decline the bond refund amount that was entered by the landlord.

The tenant can check their bond records for their Tenant Number. If they do not have one or cannot find it, they can contact us.

Contact us

Refund using Bond refund form

If the landlord is not using their property management system (PMS), the landlord and tenant must fill out the ‘Bond refund’ form and email or post it to Tenancy Services.

• The landlord fills out and signs page 1.
• The tenant fills out and signs page 2 (up to 2 tenants can complete page 2).
• If there are more than 2 tenants, they need to fill out an ‘Additional tenants bond refund form’ and attach it to this form.

Bond refund form [PDF, 498 KB]

Additional tenants bond refund form [PDF, 489 KB]

Refunds are paid by direct credit to New Zealand bank accounts only.

The tenant or landlord can email or post the form to Tenancy Services.
Email:
bonds@tenancy.govt.nz 

Post: 
Tenancy Services
PO Box 50445
Porirua 5240

If we need more information, we will contact you by phone, email or letter.

Refunding the bond to a new landlord

The tenant can transfer their bond to a new landlord if the new landlord agrees.

On the Bond refund form, the tenant should enter:

• the new landlord’s bank account number in the ‘Tenant details’ section (page 2)
• their own initial and surname in the reference field in the ‘Tenant details’ section
• any of the bond that is being used to pay the current landlord (for example, for unpaid rent), in the ‘Refund details’ section (page 1).

If the new bond amount is more than the old one, tenants must pay the new landlord the difference.

The new landlord must give the tenant a receipt and lodge the bond with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.

Paying a bond

Lodging a bond

Signatures on the Bond refund form

Bonds lodged before 2 December 2024

If your bond was lodged before 2 December 2024, the people who sign the bond refund form must be the current tenants. If these signatures do not match, there may be delays in refunding the bond.

Bonds lodged from 2 December 2024

If your bond was lodged from 2 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, include a copy of the signature page from your tenancy agreement with your bond refund form. We will use this to verify your signature.

If the tenant or landlord cannot sign the form

If the tenant or landlord cannot or will not sign the bond refund form, complete the form anyway and send it to us.

We will try to contact the person who has not signed to check if they agree with the refund. If they do not agree to the bond payment, we will let both parties know that there is an issue.

We will only refund the bond if we receive:

• a new bond refund form signed and dated by the landlord and all tenants, after the dispute date, or
• a Mediator’s Order or an Order of the Tenancy Tribunal advising how the bond is to be refunded.

A landlord can only submit a form that the tenant has not signed within 2 months of the tenancy ending. After that, they must apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to claim part of the bond or get the tenant to sign a refund form.

If the tenant or landlord has passed away

If the tenant or landlord has died, their appointed executor or administrator must sign the bond refund form. 

We will need:

• a copy of the death certificate
• proof of the executor or administrator of the estate, such as a court order, a copy of the probate, or a letter from a lawyer or The Public Trust Office
• a bond refund form signed by all parties. The executor or administrator of the estate must sign on behalf of the person who has died
• a signature ID from the executor or administrator of the estate.

The Govt.nz website has guidance about what you need to do when someone dies. 

Death and bereavement — Govt.nz(external link)

We can also refund the bond based on a court order, such as a Tenancy Tribunal order.

How long it takes to process the refund

It takes up to 5 working days to process a bond refund once a completed application is received. Once processed, the money will be paid to the bank account(s) listed on the Bond refund form.

Interpretation: working days – Residential Tenancy Act 1986(external link)

If the bond is not claimed or collected

If a bond refund is not claimed within 6 years of the tenancy ending or the refund being approved, the bond becomes the property of the Crown.

Cannot agree on the bond refund

If the landlord and tenant cannot agree on the bond refund, either party can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

• If the landlord applies, the tenant does not need to apply as well.
• If the tenant applies, the landlord must also apply if they want any of the bond money.

If both agree, they can ask for a mediator to help resolve the issue. If mediation is not used or does not work, the landlord and tenant will have to go to a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.

Disputes process