Address for service
An address for service is the address at which landlords or tenants receive notices and other documents about the tenancy.
Landlords and tenants can provide notice by an electronic address if it is provided as an additional address for service in the tenancy agreement. The physical address for service will still need to be provided.
The physical address for service must be a physical address in New Zealand. It can be your own place, or an address that mail can be received on your behalf. You should use an address that you can receive mail even after the tenancy ends.
As an additional address for service, you can include an electronic address or PO box. A landlord operating as a company can use their registered offices as an address for service.
An electronic address for service is an email address, fax number, mobile number or instant messaging account through which information can be easily accessed and referred to.
If you are a landlord or tenant serving notice to an electronic address or PO box after 5pm, it is treated as being served on the next working day. It is good practice to send a follow-up message to ensure the other party has received the notice that is being served. We recommend using an alternative contact method.
Serving notice before 5pm
A tenant serves notice to their landlord to end a periodic tenancy on a Friday at 12pm. The tenant uses the additional address for service which is the landlord’s Facebook messenger. The instant messenger shows the tenant that the message is delivered to their landlord. This means the notice has been served on Friday.
It is good practice to send a courtesy message to let the landlord know about this notice, using an alternative contact method. In this instance, you should text or call your landlord to inform them of the notice served via Facebook messenger.
Serving notice after 5pm
A landlord serves notice to end the periodic tenancy to their tenant on Friday at 6pm. The tenant has their email address as an electronic address in the tenancy agreement which the landlord uses to serve the notice. Because the landlord served it after 5pm, this is treated as being received on Monday.
Even though the notice was served after 5pm on Friday, we recommend the landlord to send a follow up message to let the tenant know about the notice served. In this instance, the landlord should text or call the tenant to inform them of the notice via Facebook messenger.
If your address for service changes
If your address for service changes during the tenancy, you must give your new details to the other person within 10 working days. If we hold a bond for the tenancy, you also need to let us know within 10 working days.
You can let us know by emailing us your new details. Your email address must match the one we have on file.
Sending us a signed letter. Your signature needs to match what was on your lodgement form. Email us your new details to bonds@tenancy.govt.nz
Address for service on a Tribunal application
When applying to the Tenancy Tribunal, you need to provide an address for service for the other person. This is how they will receive notice of the Tenancy Tribunal hearing.
Last updated: 20 March 2025
