Put your tenancy payment on dates
Enter your quoted amounts for an ordinary residential tenancy. The example pays NZ$3,600 on 26 November, covering rent from 29 November through 12 December.
Example: $3,600.00 upfront, including $2,400.00 held as bond. Rent is paid through 12 Dec 2026; the next $1,200.00 is due 13 Dec 2026.
Separate the bond from the rent it takes to move in
At NZ$600 a week, a four-week general bond and two weeks’ rent in advance require NZ$3,600. An applicable two-week pet bond would add NZ$1,200, taking that payment to NZ$4,800. Use the amounts actually agreed for your tenancy in the calculator above.
For an ordinary residential tenancy, a general bond can be up to four weeks’ rent and a landlord can require up to two weeks’ rent in advance. A landlord may charge less than the four-week bond maximum. A bond is held as security; advance rent pays for a particular rental period. Tenancy Services’ bond guidance and rent guidance explain the limits.
Check your agreement type first. A flatmate arrangement, boarding-house tenancy or service tenancy can work differently. The renting guide helps you identify the arrangement.
A payment date can come before the tenancy starts
In this fictional example, the rent is NZ$600 a week, the tenancy starts 29 November 2026, and the agreed upfront payment date is 26 November. Ongoing rent is fortnightly.
| Payment on 26 November 2026 | NZD amount | What the money does |
|---|---|---|
| General bond, four weeks | $2,400 | Held as security during the tenancy |
| Advance rent, two weeks | $1,200 | Pays rent from 29 November through 12 December |
| Cash leaving on 26 November | $3,600 | Before any pet bond |
| Optional applicable pet bond, two weeks | $1,200 | Separate security for pet-related damage |
| Cash if that pet bond also applies | $4,800 | Rent dates stay the same |
The next rent payment is 13 December 2026: NZ$1,200 for 13–26 December under this fortnightly example. The advance rent has already paid for the opening two weeks, so do not count another rent payment inside that period. Tenancy Services says a landlord cannot require the next payment until the paid rent has been used up. Follow the agreed frequency after that first covered period.
If the bonds and advance rent are due on different dates, record each payment separately so you know how much must be available on each date.
Confirm the payment before sending it
| Payment | Recipient and record |
|---|---|
| General bond | |
| Pet bond, if applicable | |
| Advance rent |
Keep account numbers and actual receipts in your secure records. The worksheet only needs enough information to reconcile your payment.
Who receives the bond, and which receipt should I get?
You can pay the bond to the landlord, or directly to Tenancy Services with the landlord’s approval. A landlord who receives it must give you a receipt showing the payment date, bond type, amount, your name, the property address and the landlord’s signature. Direct payment to Tenancy Services follows its payment invitation and produces its receipt. See paying a bond.
Agree the rent-payment method in the tenancy agreement. For rent, the landlord must provide a receipt when no other payment record is available to you; keep your own records too. Save the agreement, bond receipts, rent records and signed property-condition report together.
Landlords generally lodge bonds with Tenancy Services. If you pay the bond to your landlord, they must lodge it within 23 working days of receiving it. Ask how to identify your bond record and follow up if the expected confirmation does not arrive. Lodging a bond explains the process and exceptions, including the agreed timeframe when you pay Tenancy Services directly.
Pet bond rules to check before agreeing
Can a landlord charge a bond for a pet in New Zealand?
Yes. Under the rules introduced on 1 December 2025, a landlord can charge a pet bond where the tenant started keeping the pet on or after that date, the landlord has consented, and the bond is a condition of that consent. The documents and receipts must identify it as a pet bond. The maximum is two weeks’ rent. Tenancy Services explains the pet-bond rules.
Can a landlord charge a separate pet bond for each pet?
No. There can be only one pet bond per tenancy, even when consent covers two or more pets. At NZ$600 a week, the maximum pet bond is NZ$1,200 in total.
Can a landlord charge a pet bond for a disability assist dog?
No. Disability assist dogs cannot attract a pet bond. Use the official pet-bond guidance if you need to check how an animal is treated under the rules.
What if the pet was already kept before 1 December 2025?
If you started keeping the pet with the landlord’s approval before 1 December 2025, the landlord cannot add new consent conditions such as a pet bond for that existing arrangement. The original consent conditions still apply. Check the pet rules to 30 November 2025 against your tenancy and consent; owning an animal before that date is different from keeping it under that approved arrangement.
Keep the bond refund separate from your next move’s cash
A general bond is usually refunded when the tenancy ends if nothing is owed. Pet bonds have their own refund rules. Use the official bond-refund guidance for the bond you paid.
At the end of the tenancy:
- Compare the final condition and rent record with the starting report, and discuss any proposed deductions.
- Ask the landlord to submit the refund request through Bond Hub or their property management software. Check that Tenancy Services has your current email address.
- Review the request and respond through the official process. Keep the confirmation. If the notification does not arrive, check spam, follow up with the landlord and contact Tenancy Services if you still need help.
- If the proposed refund is disputed, use the resolution options in how to apply for a bond refund.
Budget for the next home’s payment before counting an expected bond refund as available money.
Include other costs due before payday
Temporary accommodation may overlap with the tenancy. Transport, furniture, bedding and utility setup can also fall due before the first payday. Use your quoted rent, or start with the dated local rent references, then enter the amounts and dates in the move-cost comparison.
Carry across the tenancy start, general bond, pet bond, advance rent, each payment date and ongoing rent frequency. The tool keeps bonds separate from spending and credits advance rent against the period it covers.
Rules checked against Tenancy Services on 12 October 2026. Illustrative amounts are NZD.