1. Conduct a final property inspection
You should conduct a final property inspection with your tenant. It is best to schedule your final inspection on the last day of the tenancy.
Use myRent Property Inspection Report so you have a record of your tenant's and your opinion of the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy to avoid any disputes and help with the bond settlement.
2. Make sure the property is left in its original condition
A tenant is expected to return the property in substantially the same condition and level of cleanliness it was in at the beginning of the tenancy. You should check to the original property inspection report for reference. Please note that tenants are not held responsible for reasonable 'wear and tear' to the property, minor damages caused by normal human use and deterioration due to time and exposure. The tenant could only be held liable for negligent actions and intentional damage to the premises.
3. Settle the bond
You and your tenant should agree on how bond will be refunded at the end of the tenancy. If no rent is overdue and there is no damage to the property, the tenant is generally entitled to a full refund of the bond.
Fill out bond refund form and submit it with Tenancy Services. A bond refund form can also be created on the bonds page of your myRent tenancy if you're using our management software. Read more about refunding the bond.
4. Collect the last payment
Make sure the final rental payment is collected.
5. Collect the keys
Generally, tenants will return the keys on the last day of the tenancy or the day of the final property inspection. Make sure the keys are collected and the tenant no longer has access to the property.
6. Ask for the tenant's new address
Remind the tenant to organise mail re-direction and cancel delivery services to the property. It's a good idea to ask for their new address to forward any future mail or in case of any future disputes.
7. Organise property viewings
If you want to organise property viewings for people who might want to rent the property, you must get the current tenant's permission and give reasonable notice. You should come to some agreement with the tenant regarding times and dates convenient for both of you.
8. Be careful before disposing goods left by previous tenants
It is the tenant's responsibility to ensure all the goods are removed from the property at the end of the tenancy. Sometimes tenants may leave things behind. This could be a genuine oversight or done deliberately. Sometimes it could be difficult to judge if things are rubbish or something of value. As a landlord you're only allowed to immediately throw away perishable goods and food. Otherwise you need to contact the old tenant and give them reasonable time to collect the goods.
To decide what to do with abandoned goods, go to Tenancy Services.
The information contained in this article is exclusively for promotional purposes. It does not in any way constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any legal action or contractual dealings. The information is not, and does not attempt to be, a comprehensive account of the relevant law in New Zealand. If you require legal advice you should seek independent legal counsel. myRent.co.nz does not accept any liability that may arise from the use of this information.
