This week, Monday, 24 February, kicked off with a striking headline: “The number of New Zealanders expecting house prices to rise has returned to 2020 confidence levels.”

ASB’s latest Housing Confidence Survey for the three months ending December found that a net 33% of respondents expect house prices to rise, while a net 23% believe it is a good time to buy a house.

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley commented that the results align with expectations for a slower pace of OCR cuts in 2025.

“Inflation is back under control, and the RBNZ has already cut the OCR considerably,” he said. “For those considering buying a home, there is a bit of a sweet spot at the moment—with interest rates continuing to fall, high levels of supply, and subdued house prices.”

At Goodwins, we have a strong pipeline of new listings set to hit the market, alongside a selection of high-quality properties currently available. If open home times don’t suit, we welcome private viewings with qualified buyers.

Key Changes for Landlords in 2025

Last month, I highlighted the introduction of key changes under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024, which took effect on 30 January 2025.

The next key date to be aware of is 20 March 2025, bringing further technical changes designed to improve clarity and efficiency:

Modernising how notices and documents are given:

Landlords and tenants can provide notices and documents electronically if an email or other digital contact has been listed as an address for service in the tenancy agreement. However, a physical address must still be provided.

Smoking rules clarified:

Tenancy agreements can legally enforce smoking bans indoors (except for outbuildings). However, if a landlord wishes to ban smoking anywhere on the property, they must ensure it aligns with the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment.

Email addresses as an address for service:

If an email address is listed in a tenancy agreement, it remains valid for up to two years after the tenancy ends. Additionally, if a tenant provides their email in writing or uses it to communicate with the landlord, the landlord may use that email for Tribunal applications within the same timeframe.

Tenancy Tribunal decisions without a hearing:

In some cases, the Tenancy Tribunal may decide applications without a formal hearing, based solely on the documents submitted—unless the case involves termination of a tenancy or landlord entry rights, which always require a hearing.

Withdrawing from a tenancy due to family violence:

This provision has been clarified to include a tenant’s children or dependents. If a tenant or their child/dependant experiences family violence, they can withdraw from the tenancy with just two days’ notice, provided they supply qualifying evidence.

Jurisdictional limits for Tribunal claims:

If the Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigations team makes an application against a landlord covering multiple tenancies, the $100,000 Tribunal limit applies to each individual tenancy, rather than per application.

As I highlighted earlier, there are complexities in these changes, for example, regarding fixed-term tenancies. Landlords and tenants should note that:

  • If a tenancy started on or after 11 February 2021 and expires on or before 30 April 2025, the pre-30 January 2025 laws still apply.
  • If a tenancy expires on or after 1 May 2025, the new rules apply.

At Goodwins, we are committed to keeping all of our clients informed of their rights and responsibilities under these evolving regulations.

What This Means for You

Whether you’re buying, selling, renting, or managing a property, these changes impact the way real estate transactions and tenancies operate in 2025. If you need advice or tailored guidance, our expert team is here to help.

Get in touch today to discuss how these updates affect you or to arrange a viewing of our latest listings.