Translated and adapted from KanNZ. English edition checked on 11 October 2026. The Chinese guide was updated on 9 October 2026 and first published on 3 September 2019.
Choosing a rental agreement is about more than whether you rent a whole property or one room. What matters is who you contract with, whether you are named as a tenant and whether the accommodation is a boarding house.
Residential tenancy agreement
If you rent directly from a landlord, or several tenants sign one agreement together, start with the standard residential tenancy agreement. Sharing a home does not require at least six tenants. Renting one room does not automatically make you a flatmate.
Find current templates through Tenancy Services or use its online agreement builder. Fixed-term and periodic describe the tenancy's duration, rather than whether the home is shared.
Boarding house tenancy agreement
A boarding house is not simply any home with a shared kitchen. The accommodation arrangements, number of residents, shared facilities and intended length of stay matter. Use the official boarding house assessment before choosing the boarding house agreement PDF.
Flat or house sharing agreement
If you are not a tenant on the landlord's agreement and instead have a flatmate arrangement with a tenant or homeowner, put the shared arrangements in writing. The official flat/house sharing agreement is a useful starting point.
Tenancy Services says agreements between tenants or homeowners and their flatmates are outside the Residential Tenancies Act. The actual relationship matters more than the label used. Discuss the room, rent, bills, bond, shared spaces and notice for moving out.
Before signing
Check names, addresses, rent, payment frequency, bond, tenancy dates, supplied furniture and required housing-standard statements. Keep the agreement, payment records and move-in photos. A landlord must provide the signed tenancy agreement before the tenancy starts.
If your status is unclear, describe the arrangement to Tenancy Services before choosing a template. This guide helps you find the appropriate documents; it is not advice on a specific dispute.
Original: KanNZ Chinese guide. Further reading: periodic and fixed-term tenancies.
