What happens if our flatmate goes to jail owing rent?

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If you have to go to prison, you have to keep paying rent while your name is still on the lease, unless you organise otherwise with your landlord.
If your landlord is housing New Zealand, the best course of action is to call MSD. If you a renting with a private landlord, you must pay rent as long as your name is on the tenancy agreement.
Unless your family is staying at the property and they can keep paying for the rent, it is best to ask your landlord if you can end the tenancy or assign it to someone else. This depends on the type of tenancy agreement you have (there are two types: *periodic* tenancies and *fixed term* tenancies).
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