Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 4747869 — Rent arrears
Decided 15 Dec 2023 · Published 15 Dec 2023 · Application 4747869
- Rent arrears
Party names are redacted in the official published order.
Order
- [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $156.15 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,900.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing which was held by teleconference.
- The landlord seeks rent arrears and reimbursement of a key change cost they incurred during the tenancy.
- [redacted] did move out of the property prior to the end of his fixed term tenancy. The landlord has advertised for replacement tenants, and they were arranged as soon as possible. Their tenancy commenced two days after the landlord seeks rent until.
- I consider it reasonable that [redacted] pay the rent arrears sought. He was on a fixed term tenancy and therefore liable for rent until the end of the fixed term or until replacement tenants were obtained. Accordingly, the rent arrears are ordered as sought.
- [redacted] also claims compensation for having to get a new key cut after [redacted] allegedly changed the locks during the tenancy [redacted] denies changing the locks and says he used his key for the duration of the tenancy. The burden of proof here is on the applicant, being the landlord. They have not proven that [redacted] did change the locks to the relevant standard, accordingly this claim is dismissed.
- Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee and approved their application for suppression. I also direct that [redacted] details are suppressed as he was partially successful in his defence.