Q My one-bedroom apartment in Auckland has been co-leased to a couple for the past two years. Over the weekend I received an email from my female tenant who disclosed her male partner was domestically abusing her. Previous incidents have resulted in police checks. However, no charges have been made.
While she has a new tenancy lined up and somewhere safe to stay in the interim, she is unable to finance this move and pay out the 28-day notice period at the same time. She is also concerned her partner will react violently if he finds out she is leaving and wishes to do so without disclosing the tenancy termination to him. She has always been a trustworthy tenant and my priority is ensuring her safety. What are her rights and what can I do as a landlord to help?
A Under New Zealand regulations for residential tenancies any tenant who experiences family violence in their home is entitled to remove themselves from the tenancy. The requirement is simply a two-day written notice.
