The RTA Amendment Bill 2024 passed its Second Reading and is now one step closer to being passed into law.
Public submissions ended in July, and before the Second Reading last week, the Social Service and Community Committee recommend the following changes to the Bill which have now all been adopted.
SEE THE RTA AMENDMENT BILL 2024 HERE
- Clarifying Pet Bond Requirements:
- A landlord may require only one pet bond at a time during a tenancy, even if a tenant gains consent for a new pet.
- Recommended changes clarify that a pet bond may be refundable during a tenancy, such as when a pet dies or is rehomed.
- Pet Consent Conditions:
- It should be an unlawful act for a tenant to keep a pet without the landlord’s written consent or without relevant terms in the tenancy agreement.
- The bill specifies grounds for a landlord to refuse pet consent (e.g., unsuitable pets, prohibitive bylaws) and expands them to cover number of pets, previous pet-related issues, etc.
- Conditions for pet-keeping may include reasonable requirements (e.g., pet bond, cleaning carpets).
- Tenant Liability for Pet Damage: The tenant’s liability is broadened to cover all damage resulting from keeping a pet on the premises, not limited to direct pet actions.
- Retaliatory Termination: Updates to the definition and scope of retaliatory termination notices, covering actions by other regulatory bodies, and extending timelines for declaring such notices retaliatory.
- Commencement Dates: Staggered implementation of provisions, with pet-related changes to be introduced later via an Order in Council.
- Smoking Provisions Clarification: Clarifies permissible areas where landlords may restrict smoking, focusing on indoor versus outdoor locations.
National, Act and New Zealand First all supported the Bill through its Second Reading for a total of 68 votes.
Conversely, Labour, the Green Party and Te Pati Maori voted against the Bill for a total of 55 votes.
The Bill is now at the Committee of the Whole House stage where parliament will consider the Bill further and may make further changes ahead of the Third Reading.
The Bill will also make changes to Section 51 and 60A of the RTA, with landlords set to be able to end periodic tenancies and fixed term tenancies without reason.
The termination changes are expected to be law by early next year with the Pet Bond change expected to come into law in late 2025.
