Last updated: 20 October 2026
Tenant screening is how a landlord checks that an applicant can pay the rent and will look after the property, before offering a tenancy. In New Zealand you can run a credit check, a criminal record check and reference checks, but only with the applicant’s consent and only once you are seriously considering them. Ask for too much, or too early, and you risk breaching the Privacy Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. This guide sets out what you can check, when, and how we do it for the landlords we manage.
Finding the right tenant can be a daunting task for any landlord. In Wellington’s competitive rental market, it’s more important than ever to ensure you’re choosing the right individuals to occupy your property. With tenant screening, you can go beyond the initial rental application to identify reliable, responsible tenants. This guide will offer practical tips and techniques to enhance your tenant screening process, ensuring your property remains in good hands.
What can a landlord ask a tenant in NZ?
The Privacy Commissioner’s guidance for landlords splits tenant selection into stages, and what you may collect grows as the applicant gets closer to a tenancy offer.
At a viewing: name and contact details only, so you can follow up. You can offer an application form but should not require it.
On the application: proof of identity, whether the applicant is 18 or over, how many people will live there (names only for those who will not be tenants), contact details for referees, and whether your pet or smoking rules suit them. Applicants can also give consent on the form for credit and criminal record checks later.
Once they are your preferred applicant: with their consent, you can now run the credit check and criminal record check, contact referees, and ask for evidence they can afford the rent.
When preparing the tenancy agreement: an address for service, emergency contact details and, only if needed, vehicle details for parking.
How do you do a tenant background check in NZ?
A tenant background check in New Zealand usually combines four things: confirming identity, a credit check, references from previous landlords, and evidence of income. Some landlords add a criminal record check. Do them in that order, and only for applicants you are seriously considering.
1. Confirm identity. View a passport or driver licence and record the ID number. If the applicant sent a photo or scan, securely delete it once you have verified it.
2. Run a credit check. With written consent, use a credit reporting or tenant screening service. Look for unpaid debts, defaults and judgments, especially any linked to previous tenancies.
3. Call previous landlords. Ask whether rent was paid on time, how the property was kept, whether the bond was returned in full, and whether they would rent to the person again.
4. Check they can afford the rent. The guidance allows a credit report plus one other piece of evidence, such as a recent payslip, a letter from an employer or Work and Income, or a record of past rent payments. The applicant chooses which.
You can also search Tenancy Tribunal orders, which are published online, for the applicant’s name. Treat a match with care: check it is the same person and look at what the order was about.
Can landlords run a credit check on a tenant?
Yes, with the applicant’s consent. The Privacy Commissioner’s guidance says the check should happen only once you are negotiating a tenancy offer with that person, not for every applicant who views the property. Keep the report secure, use it only for deciding the tenancy, and do not keep it longer than you need it.
Can I check a tenant’s criminal record?
You can, with consent, at the same stage as the credit check. Be clear with the applicant about how you will use the result and which convictions would matter to your decision, for example, ones related to property damage or dishonesty. A criminal record check is not an automatic part of every screening, and many landlords rely on references and credit history instead.
What should you not ask a tenant?
Under the Human Rights Act and the Privacy Commissioner’s guidance, do not ask about or decide on the basis of:
- sex, including pregnancy, relationship or family status, or sexual orientation or gender identity
- race, colour, ethnicity, nationality or citizenship (you can still view a passport as ID)
- religious, ethical or political belief
- disability or illness
- age, other than whether they are 18 or over
- employment status, such as being unemployed, on a benefit or on ACC
- whether they have experienced family violence
Also avoid asking for full bank statements, how applicants spend their money, their employment history (current employment is fine) or their social media profiles.
What are the red flags when screening tenants?
- A previous landlord who will not give a reference, or references that are only from friends or family
- Gaps or inconsistencies between the application, ID and references
- Recent credit defaults or judgments, especially for unpaid rent or utilities
- Pressure to skip steps, such as paying cash to secure the property before checks are done
- A Tenancy Tribunal order for rent arrears or damage
One flag on its own is not a reason to decline. Ask the applicant about it: there is often a simple explanation.
Criteria for tenant selection: how to choose fairly
Set your criteria before you advertise and apply them to every applicant: ability to pay, rental history and references, and fit with the property (number of occupants, pets, smoking). Score each preferred applicant against the same list and keep brief notes of why you chose one person over another. Consistent, written criteria are your best protection if a decision is ever questioned.
How Taylor Property Plus screens tenants for Wellington landlords
For the landlords we manage, we handle every step: marketing, viewings, applications, identity, credit and reference checks, and affordability, following the Privacy Commissioner’s guidance at each stage. We then recommend an applicant with our reasons, and you make the final call. On average, we secure a tenant within three to four weeks.
If you would rather not run these checks yourself, see how our property management in Wellington works, or ask us for a rental appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tenant credit check legal in New Zealand?
Yes, with the applicant’s consent, and once you are seriously considering them for the tenancy.
How long does tenant screening take?
Usually one to three working days once we have the applicant’s consent and referee details.
Can I ask a tenant for bank statements?
Not full statements showing transactions. To check affordability, the applicant can choose to give a payslip, a letter from their employer or Work and Income, or a record of past rent payments, alongside a credit report.
Do I need the tenant’s consent for a background check?
Yes. Get written consent for credit and criminal record checks and for contacting referees. A consent section on your application form is the simplest way.
Is it worth paying a property manager to screen tenants?
If you are short of time, live away from Wellington or are not confident about the privacy rules, yes. A property manager screens applicants every week, knows what the rules allow at each stage and can usually fill a vacancy faster.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, see Tenancy Services and the Privacy Commissioner’s rental guidance, or talk to a lawyer.
More Guides for landlords
- First Investment Property in Wellington: Getting Started
- How to Set Rent in Wellington: A Guide for Landlords
- Healthy Homes Checklist NZ: A Guide for Wellington Landlords
- Landlord Insurance NZ Explained for Wellington Landlords
