Family Violence and Physical Assault Regulations approved by Cabinet
Published 05 Dec 22
There are few things more important to people and whānau in Aotearoa than the homes and communities they live in. Everyone deserves a warm, secure, affordable home whether they own or rent. They also have a right to be safe in these homes.
Cabinet has now approved the Residential Tenancies (Termination for Physical Assault by Tenant and Withdrawal Following Family Violence) Regulations 2022.
These were gazetted last week and will come into force on 29 December 2022.
The changes mean that a tenant can issue their landlord with a family violence withdrawal notice and leave a tenancy with two days’ notice, so long as evidence of family violence is provided.
This removes the obligation to pay rent, which can be a barrier to tenants leaving situations of family violence and seeking safety.
The changes also provide protections for landlords who are victims of assault by a tenant. These regulations allow landlords to terminate a tenancy in 14 days if a tenant physically assaults them and the Police file a charge related to this.
The regulations offer an alternative to the existing process for landlords to end a tenancy if a tenant assaults them, without needing to go to the Tenancy Tribunal.
