19Tenancy agreements to be written

19 Tenancy agreements to be written (1) If a landlord enters into a written tenancy agreement the agreement is to: (a) contain the name of the tenants and the name and address for service of the landlord's agent, if any; (b) contain the full name and address for service of the landlord; (c) clearly identify the premises to which the agreement relates; (d) contain each term, or a term to the same effect as each term, that is specified by or under this Act to be a term of a tenancy agreement; (e) include terms as to the amount of rent payable and how the rent is to be payable; and (f) if the agreement is for a fixed term tenancy – specify the duration of the agreement. (2) If a landlord who has invited a tenant to sign a written tenancy agreement or a document containing its terms has signed the agreement or document, the landlord must give a copy to the tenant when the tenant signs it. (3) If a landlord who has invited a tenant to sign a written tenancy agreement or a document containing its terms has not signed the agreement or document, the landlord must give a copy to the tenant for signature by the tenant, sign the document when the tenant returns it and give to the tenant a copy of the document as signed by both parties within 7 days after the tenant returns it. (4) If a tenancy agreement is not in accordance with subsection (1) or is not signed by all parties to the agreement, a tenancy agreement, if any, prescribed for the purposes of this section is to be taken to be the agreement between the parties for the purposes of this Act. Residential Tenancies Act 1999 16