The usual amount of notice doesn’t have to be given in these situations:
by agreement – your landlord can agree in writing to you ending the tenancy early
renting from your boss – if your landlord is also your employer, and you quit the job or are fired or transferred, the notice period is at least two weeks (14 days), and in some situations less. (These are called “service” tenancies)
student hostels – if you’re staying in a student hostel run by a university, polytech or other tertiary education organisation, and you stop being a student, the notice period is at least two weeks (14 days)
Tenancy Tribunal Order – The Tribunal can allow a shorter notice period, and it can also bring the tenancy to an end in some cases – for example, if you’re three weeks or more behind in the rent (see below “When the Tenancy Tribunal can end a periodic tenancy”)
Exceptions for family violence and physical assault
There are two recent changes to the law that allow tenants and landlords to end the tenancy giving a shorter notice period:
Family violence – If you need to leave your flat quickly because you are experiencing family violence, the notice period has changed to two days’ notice (with evidence of family violence). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is creating a set of regulations to let you know what kind of evidence you need to provide when you give notice to your landlord. See “Giving notice to end a tenancy due to family violence” below.
Physical assault – If you assault the landlord, owner, their family, or the agent, the minimum notice period the landlord can give you is 14 days. The Ministry of Housing and Urban development is still deciding what information landlords must include in the ’14 days’ notice for termination’ in this situation. However landlords in this situation can still apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end the tenancy before the regulations are ready.