How to Lodge a Bond in NZ: Bond Hub and Property Software Guide

In New Zealand, landlords must lodge a residential tenancy bond with Tenancy Services. You can use the free Bond Hub or property-management software listed as connected to Tenancy Services. This guide explains the current routes and the records to keep.

Time limit: lodge the bond within 23 working days after receiving it. Check the current requirements with Tenancy Services. Do not assume a software submission is complete until you have checked its status and payment instructions.

Choose a lodgement route

Bond Hub: use the official online service to submit a new bond, check bond details and complete supported changes or refund requests. Follow the current prompts and keep the confirmation.

Connected property software: Tenancy Services publishes a list of software providers that support bond transactions. RentManager is listed. Available transactions and steps depend on the product and the current service connection. Review every detail, follow any payment instructions shown and retain the returned reference and status. A reference helps identify the bond; it does not replace the official record or prove a separate dispute outcome.

Paper forms are no longer the route for the transaction types moved to Bond Hub from 29 June 2026. New bond lodgements were already handled online. Check Tenancy Services for the current route for your specific transaction.

Before you submit

1. Confirm the property address, landlord and tenant details, tenancy start date, rent and bond amount against the signed agreement.
2. Check the legal bond limit and the amount actually received. A pet bond, where permitted under current law, has its own rules and should be recorded separately.
3. Use the current service instructions for payment. Do not rely on an old email address, an assumed payment method or an unverified dashboard reminder.
4. Submit within the legal time limit. Keep the submission confirmation, bond reference and payment evidence with the tenancy records.
5. Check that the bond appears in the official record. If details or payment status are unclear, contact Tenancy Services before assuming the task is complete.

Refunds and changes

At the end of a tenancy, agree the refund split with the tenant and submit the correct refund request. In Bond Hub, the other party has 12 working days to respond to a refund request. When all parties agree, Tenancy Services says payment follows the next day; other refund routes can take up to 10 working days to process. These are different stages, so check the live status and guidance for your case.

For a disagreement, do not treat the software as deciding who is entitled to the bond. Keep the agreement, inspection records, dated photos, rent ledger and relevant communications. Get independent tenancy advice or use the Tenancy Tribunal process where needed.

Changes to tenants or landlords may be made through Bond Hub or a connected provider where supported. Check the current official workflow before changing parties or closing a tenancy record. Do not assume a change means the bond has been paid out or transferred until the official status confirms it.

What RentManager does

RentManager supports bond transactions through its Tenancy Services connection and keeps bond details with the tenancy records. The exact options shown depend on the transaction and current product configuration. Review the details before submission and keep the confirmation. RentManager is not the Tenancy Tribunal and does not decide refund disputes.

RentManager also helps keep tenancy, rent, inspection and document records together. It does not replace the official Bond Hub record or your responsibility to check that a lodgement, payment, change or refund has completed.

Keep a useful bond record

• Signed tenancy agreement and variations.
• Bond amount received and date received.
• Submission status, bond reference and payment evidence.
• Any change requests and the final refund decision.
• Move-in and move-out condition reports, photos and relevant communications.

For a free route, use Tenancy Services Bond Hub. If you want your bond details alongside rent and tenancy records, see RentManager bond lodgement or ask our human support team how the workflow works. Product pricing and availability are shown on the relevant pricing page.

Reviewed 1 October 2026. Government workflows can change. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Use the current Tenancy Services instructions for your situation.