What was Tenancy Tribunal case 4967673 about?

The published order could not be summarised from available data.

How much money was awarded in case 4967673?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4967673?

The dispute type was not classified.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4967673?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/11038264-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 4967673 about?

The published order could not be summarised from available data.

How much money was awarded in case 4967673?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4967673?

The dispute type was not classified.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4967673?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/11038264-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

36A Bruce Street, Hunterville, Hunterville 4730 Tenancy Tribunal Case 4967673 — Tenancy dispute

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing.
This is a tenant application seeking compensation for power and water bills paid over the term of the tenancy.
The tenancy commenced on 19 January 2024 and terminated on 5 September 2024 after the tenants gave 28 days’ notice.
The relationship between the tenant and landlord was good for some time. However, the tenant found out that they were paying power and water bills for a large garaging area attached to the property. The garaging area consisted of 3 separate garages joined together. The tenant was not permitted to use any of the garages within the garaging area and it was not part of the tenancy agreement.
The owner of the property had one garage for his sole use which he stored equipment, a sink, fridge, and tools. One of the other garages were used by the local St John’s ambulance service. The garage housed one of the “back-up” ambulances.
It is not disputed that there were people who worked occasionally at the two occupied garages and used power and water which would then be billed to the tenant on their account.
The tenant queried the high-water bills with the landlord and sought reassurance that they were not incurring the water and power bills for the garaging area.
Initially the landlord reassured the tenant that there were separate meters. However, this proved to be incorrect. I have no doubt that the landlord was genuine in his belief at the time that he told the tenant that there were separate meters on the water and power for the garaging area.
There were disputes about the power and water bills and the landlord offered $50.00 per month to the tenant towards the cost of their water and power bills.
This offer was not acceptable to the tenant. The tenant looked for a new home and ended the tenancy.
The tenant said that the total power and water bills paid over the 9 months period was $1034.00 and they seek a 50% refund of the total bills. The tenant is therefore seeking $517.00 in compensation from the landlord. However, the landlord also advised that the owner paid one of the water bills of $131.20 as a gesture of good faith after the meter situation became known about. Therefore, the total of invoices paid by the tenant was $902.80, and 50% of that sum is $451.40.
The landlord said that while they accept there should have been some compensation paid, that the tenants were let off paying 5 days additional rent @$82.85 per day, which totals $414.25.
The tenancy was due to end of the 10 September 2024, but the tenants sought to leave on the 5 th of September 2024, thereby the landlord lost $414.25 in rent by the early release.
I believe it is fair and just to compensate the tenant for the extra water and power costs they incurred. Regardless of the amount, it is inappropriate that a tenant incurs someone else bills.
I am granting the tenant claim for the $451.40 but deducting the extra 5 days rent from that amount. For completeness, the tenant is to be compensated the sum of $37.15.
Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
The tenant has applied for name suppression and as they have been successful, I am granting suppression.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing.

This is a tenant application seeking compensation for power and water bills paid over the term of the tenancy.

The tenancy commenced on 19 January 2024 and terminated on 5 September 2024 after the tenants gave 28 days’ notice.

The relationship between the tenant and landlord was good for some time. However, the tenant found out that they were paying power and water bills for a large garaging area attached to the property. The garaging area consisted of 3 separate garages joined together. The tenant was not permitted to use any of the garages within the garaging area and it was not part of the tenancy agreement.

The owner of the property had one garage for his sole use which he stored equipment, a sink, fridge, and tools. One of the other garages were used by the local St John’s ambulance service. The garage housed one of the “back-up” ambulances.

It is not disputed that there were people who worked occasionally at the two occupied garages and used power and water which would then be billed to the tenant on their account.

The tenant queried the high-water bills with the landlord and sought reassurance that they were not incurring the water and power bills for the garaging area.

Initially the landlord reassured the tenant that there were separate meters. However, this proved to be incorrect. I have no doubt that the landlord was genuine in his belief at the time that he told the tenant that there were separate meters on the water and power for the garaging area.

There were disputes about the power and water bills and the landlord offered $50.00 per month to the tenant towards the cost of their water and power bills.

This offer was not acceptable to the tenant. The tenant looked for a new home and ended the tenancy.

The tenant said that the total power and water bills paid over the 9 months period was $1034.00 and they seek a 50% refund of the total bills. The tenant is therefore seeking $517.00 in compensation from the landlord. However, the landlord also advised that the owner paid one of the water bills of $131.20 as a gesture of good faith after the meter situation became known about. Therefore, the total of invoices paid by the tenant was $902.80, and 50% of that sum is $451.40.

The landlord said that while they accept there should have been some compensation paid, that the tenants were let off paying 5 days additional rent @$82.85 per day, which totals $414.25.

The tenancy was due to end of the 10 September 2024, but the tenants sought to leave on the 5 th of September 2024, thereby the landlord lost $414.25 in rent by the early release.

I believe it is fair and just to compensate the tenant for the extra water and power costs they incurred. Regardless of the amount, it is inappropriate that a tenant incurs someone else bills.

I am granting the tenant claim for the $451.40 but deducting the extra 5 days rent from that amount. For completeness, the tenant is to be compensated the sum of $37.15.

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

The tenant has applied for name suppression and as they have been successful, I am granting suppression.

Tenancy Tribunal case 4967673 — Tenancy dispute at 36A Bruce Street, Hunterville, Hunterville 4730

At a glance

Claims & awards

Tenancy Tribunal case 4967673 — Tenancy dispute at 36A Bruce Street, Hunterville, Hunterville 4730

At a glance

Claims & awards

Reasons

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Reasons

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Frequently asked questions