Bonds frequently asked questions

How do I get my bond money back?

A bond refund form is used to recover the bond. It should not be signed until it is fully completed, including the amounts to be refunded to the landlord and the tenant. All of the parties to the bond should sign the form.

Bank account numbers should be included on the form as refunds are only made by direct credit. All of the parties to the bond should sign the form. All parties should sign next to any alterations made to amounts or to bank account numbers.

No interest is paid for bonds held by Tenancy Services. In accordance with section 127 (7) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the proceeds from the investment of funds held in the Residential Tenancies Trust Account belong to the Crown and are used as departmental revenue for the Department of Building and Housing. 

Once completed, the bond refund form should be either posted to the Department of Building and Housing at PO Box 50445, Porirua, or faxed to (04) 237 7884. 

If the signature of the landlord or tenant cannot be obtained, the bond refund form should still be completed and sent or faxed to the Department of Building and Housing. They will write to the party who has not signed the form and ask for their permission to refund the bond as requested. The landlord or tenant will be given a date to reply by.

• If they do not reply, the Department of Building and Housing may still pay out the bond as requested.
• If they do reply and agree to the payments requested on the bond refund form, it will be paid out.
• If they reply and disagree, the bond will not be paid out and both the landlord and tenant will be notified of the dispute. The bond will not then be refunded until either a new refund form is received and is signed by all parties to the bond, or until the Department of Building and Housing receives a mediator’s order or an order of the Tenancy Tribunal advising how the bond is to be refunded.

Bond refunds are normally processed within 3 working days of the Department of Building and Housing receiving a refund request. For information about the processing of bonds, bond numbers, or what is happening with a bond, phone the Bond Advice line on 0800 737 666.

Can I transfer a bond?

Bonds can be transferred for tenants. A bond transfer form is used to transfer the bond for the tenant from their old tenancy to their new tenancy at a different property. The form should be completed by the landlord and tenants for the old tenancy and by the landlord and tenants for the new tenancy. The form has room for refunding part of the old bond and for additional payment for the new bond.

Bank account numbers should be included on the form if part of the old bond is to be refunded, as refunds are only made by direct credit. All parties should sign next to any alterations made to amounts or to bank account numbers.

Once completed, the bond transfer form should be either posted to the Department of Building and Housing at PO Box 50445, Porirua, or faxed to (04) 237 7884.

Bond transfers are normally processed within 5 working days of the Department of Building and Housing receiving a refund request. For information about the processing of bonds, bond numbers or what is happening with a bond, phone the Bond Advice line on 0800 737 666.

Read more about bonds in the sections of our site for landlords and tenants.