Your landlord won't release your bond. Apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.
Your bond is held by Tenancy Services, not the landlord — and the Tenancy Tribunal can order it refunded for a $28 fee.
You asked the landlord to agree to release your bond and they ignored you, refused, or returned only part. In New Zealand your bond is held by Tenancy Services (MBIE), not the landlord, and it is refunded on the parties' agreement or by a Tenancy Tribunal order. The next step is to apply to the Tribunal — the fee is just $28, and if you succeed you can ask for it back.
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 lets a landlord claim from the bond only for rent genuinely owed or damage beyond fair wear and tear, and they must prove it. Fair wear and tear is not chargeable. Your entry and exit inspection reports, dated photos, and the bond lodgement record are usually decisive.
Before a hearing, Tenancy Services offers a free FastTrack Resolution / mediation step that can turn an agreement into a binding mediated order — often the fastest path. If it doesn't resolve, the Tribunal hears the application and makes an order.
Legal mechanisms now in play
- Bond held by Tenancy Services — released on agreement or by Tenancy Tribunal order
- Residential Tenancies Act 1986 — landlord must prove any deduction; fair wear and tear is not chargeable
- Tenancy Tribunal fee is only $28, and the Tribunal can order the landlord to repay it
- Free FastTrack Resolution / mediation through Tenancy Services before a hearing
- Tribunal jurisdiction up to $100,000; orders are enforceable
Tenancy Tribunal Bond Application
Builds a structured application narrative for the Tenancy Tribunal: the tenancy and bond, what's wrong with the landlord's position, your stage-1 demand and the response, the facts, and the order sought — refund of your bond plus your $28 fee — with an evidence checklist.
$19.00 ($9.00 if you bought our earlier letter — apply via the receipt URL or QR code in your first letter's PDF)
Start the Tenancy Tribunal Bond Application →Frequently asked
Who actually holds my bond?
Tenancy Services (part of MBIE) holds residential bonds — not your landlord. It releases the bond when both parties agree, or when the Tenancy Tribunal orders it. That's why a landlord 'keeping' your bond really means refusing to agree to its release.
What does it cost to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal?
$28. If you succeed, you can ask the Tribunal to order the landlord to reimburse the fee. Before a hearing, Tenancy Services also offers free FastTrack Resolution and mediation.
Can the landlord deduct for cleaning or wear and tear?
Fair wear and tear is not chargeable. A landlord can only deduct for rent genuinely owed or for damage beyond fair wear and tear, and they must evidence it. Vague 'cleaning' or 'damage' claims without receipts rarely stand up.
What evidence matters most?
The entry (move-in) and exit (move-out) inspection reports, dated photos of the property's condition when you left, the bond lodgement record, and any written messages with the landlord about the bond.
How much does the next-step application cost?
$19 standalone, or $9 if you bought our original NZ bond-refund demand — your receipt URL or QR code applies the discount automatically.