What we do

We offer advice and information for landlords and tenants who rent their homes.

We also provide dispute resolution services. We can give you information and advice about your rights and obligations, and then you can decide on the next step to take. We have a number of dispute resolution offices and we also use a number of community venues throughout the country.  We also administer the State Housing Appeals Authority.

We administer the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, which sets out the law regarding residential tenancies for landlords and tenants in New Zealand.

We receive and hold bonds until the end of a tenancy, when either the landlord or tenant can apply for a refund. If you need information about a bond, call us on 0800 737 666 or, if you’re outside New Zealand, on +64 4 238 4693.

If you need information about a tenancy, you can:

• check out our handy A-Z or Frequently asked questions
• read our forms and information sheets
• look up the Service location directory to see where we provide help around the country
• email us at information@dbh.govt.nz
• call us on 0800 TENANCY (0800 83 62 62) or, if you’re outside New Zealand, on +64 4 238 4695.

To make an appointment for tenancy advice or mediation call 0800 TENANCY (0800 83 62 62).

We’re changing the way we deliver tenancy services so tenants and landlords can access services in the way that best suits them.

Landlords and tenants can now

• Call 0800 TENANCY during extended hours from 8 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday for advice.
• Walk into the Auckland CBD, Manukau, Hamilton, Wellington or Christchurch Department of Building and Housing offices and ask for advice or call 0800 TENANCY to make an appointment there or at one of our locations across New Zealand.
• Make an application to the Tenancy Tribunal online and pay by Visa or MasterCard.
• Resolve simple disputes within 24 hours through our new Swift phone mediation service. If your application is suitable you may be offered the option of Swift. Swift cannot be requested.
• You may wish to view Tenancy Tribunal orders online  as another tool in your decision making process before entering into a Tenancy agreement.

We’re visiting more locations

We’re now connected to more communities by providing appointments for advice and mediation in various locations throughout New Zealand.  This means most landlords and tenants will be able to resolve disputes without having far to travel.

We have three types of service locations.

1. A full service office where customers can walk in without appointment and receive advice and service.  
2. A service delivery location where mediators are based.  Service and advice is by appointment only. 
3. Community venues where we have a presence in an existing government, commercial or community space which will be attended either once a week or less frequently depending on relative demand.

Full service office		Service delivery location	Community venue
Northern region	Auckland Manukau	Henderson Takapuna Whangarei	Kaikohe  Mangere Orewa Pukekohe Dargaville Helensville Kaitaia Kerikeri Waiheke Warkworth
Central region	Hamilton Wellington	Gisborne Lower Hutt Napier New Plymouth Palmerston North Porirua Rotorua Tauranga	Hastings Hawera Huntly Levin Masterton Kawerau* Opotiki* Paraparaumu* Putaruru Taupo Tokoroa Thames Turangi* Upper Hutt Wairoa Whakatane Wanganui
Southern region	Christchurch	Dunedin Greymouth Invercargill Nelson Timaru	Aranui Ashburton Blenheim Hokitika* Hornby* Linwood Motueka Oamaru Queenstown Rangiora* Takaka Westport

^{* = new locations being visited}