Periodic tenancy (New Zealand)
A New Zealand residential tenancy that continues indefinitely until either party ends it with the notice period required by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
A periodic tenancy has no fixed end date and rolls on week to week or month to month. It ends only when the tenant gives the required notice, the landlord gives notice on a ground permitted by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, or both parties agree in writing.
Since the 2020 amendments to the Act, landlords can no longer end a periodic tenancy “without cause”; termination requires a specified ground such as sale with vacant possession, the landlord or a family member moving in, or extensive renovations. The statutory notice period depends on the ground.
Periodic tenancies contrast with fixed-term tenancies, which end on a specified date unless the parties agree in writing to continue or vary them.
Primary source
Tenancy Services — Types of tenancies →Last reviewed 15 April 2026. Rates, thresholds, and deadlines change — always verify against the primary source before making decisions.