What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5273906 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5273906?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5273906?

The primary dispute was 14-day notice.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5273906?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12201708-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5273906 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5273906?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5273906?

The primary dispute was 14-day notice.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5273906?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12201708-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5273906 — 14-day notice

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant name and tenancy address.
The tenant must comply with the below orders by 5:00pm on Wednesday 13 August 2025: a. Remove the brown dog from the property and not allow it to return at any time. b. Deliver a written application to an office of the landlord requesting to keep the black and white dog on the correct pet form and with all required information.
This matter is decided by the orders above, but the landlord is allowed until 10am on Wednesday 27 August 2025 to request that a second hearing be scheduled with me and provide evidence that the tenant has not complied with order 2a or 2b.
If the tenant does not comply with order 2a or 2b and the landlord requests a second hearing, then the application for termination of the tenancy will be considered again.

Reasons

A representative for the landlord and the tenant attended the hearing held by telephone. I also heard from the landlord’s property manager.
The landlord has applied for an order requiring the tenant to remove two dogs at the property and for termination of the tenancy if she does not do so. Background
RD has lived at this address since May 2006.
She agrees that there are two dogs at the property. One is a brown dog and the other a 15-year old black and white dog that she has had since it was a puppy.
RD wants to rehome the brown dog but is waiting for a place at the pound.
She wants to keep the black and white dog as it is a family pet.
The landlord says that a staff member was “rushed” by the black and white dog during an unannounced visit on 15 April 2025. The landlord is concerned that this dog is aggressive and may not be contained securely at the address.

What does the law say about pets at tenancy properties?

The law that applies to tenancies is the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
A tenancy agreement is a binding contract between parties.
The tenancy agreement between the landlord and tenant includes clause 10 which says: 10The tenant shall not keep a dog within the premises unless the landlord agrees in writing beforehand. What does the law say about terminating tenancies because a tenant breaches the law or tenancy agreement?
The law says the Tenancy Tribunal may terminate a tenancy if the type of breach, or the seriousness of it, means it would be unfair to refuse to end the tenancy. Section 56(1) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Where the breach is capable of remedy the landlord must first serve a notice on the tenant requiring them to remedy the breach (and give them a reasonable time to do that which cannot be less than 14 days) and prove the tenant has failed to do so.

Did the tenant breach the tenancy agreement or other law?

The tenant accepts that she did not obtain prior written consent from the landlord to keep a dog or dogs at the property.
This means she has breached the tenancy agreement.

Has the tenant failed to remedy the breach?

The landlord gave the tenant a notice of breach dated 17 April 2025 and gave her until 12 May 2025 to remove the two dogs.
The landlord has given a notice of breach.
RD accepts that both dogs are still at her property.
RD has failed to remedy the breach.

Would it be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy?

The landlord wants me to make an order requiring the tenant to remove both dogs by a certain date and that if she does not do so, the tenancy will terminate.
This is called a “conditional termination order”.
I may make this order but only if I am satisfied it would be unfair to refuse to do so; s56(1)(c) RTA.
I have decided not to make a conditional termination order at this stage.
My reasons for this are:- a. RD agrees to rehome the brown dog. b. There is not enough evidence to show that the black and white dog is aggressive in nature. The property manager only went to the house once and with no prior notification before he entered onto the property. c. RD gave oral evidence that she has had the black and white dog for nearly 15 years, since it was a puppy. d. RD (supported by her daughter) gave oral evidence that she did complete a pet consent form and take this to the landlord’s office some months ago but for unknown reasons there is no record of it. I accept this evidence.
It is not unfair to refuse the termination order because the black and white dog has been at the property for many years, the one instance of aggression occurred when someone came onto the property without prior notice, and there has not yet been consideration of a pet request. Actions and second hearing
I spoke to the property manager during the hearing who agrees to progress matters by:- a. The brown dog being removed – by 5.00pm on 13 August 2025. b. The tenant completing a formal pet request form – also by 5.00pm on 13 August 2025. RD said she would pick a form up and would deliver it to the nearest office. The property manager could email one to the new address supplied. c. The landlord will then consider a request to keep the black and white dog. d. The black and white dog should be kept inside the house and in the rear garden once the brown dog leaves. The rear garden is more secure. e. Additional contact details have been provided for the tenant and her daughter so that future visits by the landlord can be notified in advance.
RD must understand that if she does not comply with the orders to remove the brown dog and complete the pet form by 5.00pm 13 August 2025, then the landlord can request that a second hearing be scheduled.
If this happens, then I will again consider the landlord’s application to terminate the tenancy.
The application is decided by the orders I have made unless the landlord requests a second hearing in accordance with order 3. Suppression of names
Most orders of the Tenancy Tribunal are published on the Ministry of Justice website. This is because the Tribunal is a public forum.
The Tribunal may suppress names or other details in certain circumstances. See section 95A RTA.
I have decided to suppress the tenant’s name and the tenancy address from the published order. I am satisfied the tenant is now engaging with this process constructively and it is still underway. In addition, the tenant still lives at the address and her privacy outweighs any public interest in her identity.
I do not suppress the landlord’s name as it is the government landlord managing public funds and infrastructure and it is therefore in the public interest that its actions be transparent.

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant name and tenancy address.
The tenant must comply with the below orders by 5:00pm on Wednesday 13 August 2025: a. Remove the brown dog from the property and not allow it to return at any time. b. Deliver a written application to an office of the landlord requesting to keep the black and white dog on the correct pet form and with all required information.
This matter is decided by the orders above, but the landlord is allowed until 10am on Wednesday 27 August 2025 to request that a second hearing be scheduled with me and provide evidence that the tenant has not complied with order 2a or 2b.
If the tenant does not comply with order 2a or 2b and the landlord requests a second hearing, then the application for termination of the tenancy will be considered again.

Reasons

A representative for the landlord and the tenant attended the hearing held by telephone. I also heard from the landlord’s property manager.
The landlord has applied for an order requiring the tenant to remove two dogs at the property and for termination of the tenancy if she does not do so. Background
RD has lived at this address since May 2006.
She agrees that there are two dogs at the property. One is a brown dog and the other a 15-year old black and white dog that she has had since it was a puppy.
RD wants to rehome the brown dog but is waiting for a place at the pound.
She wants to keep the black and white dog as it is a family pet.
The landlord says that a staff member was “rushed” by the black and white dog during an unannounced visit on 15 April 2025. The landlord is concerned that this dog is aggressive and may not be contained securely at the address.

What does the law say about pets at tenancy properties?

The law that applies to tenancies is the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
A tenancy agreement is a binding contract between parties.
The tenancy agreement between the landlord and tenant includes clause 10 which says: 10The tenant shall not keep a dog within the premises unless the landlord agrees in writing beforehand. What does the law say about terminating tenancies because a tenant breaches the law or tenancy agreement?
The law says the Tenancy Tribunal may terminate a tenancy if the type of breach, or the seriousness of it, means it would be unfair to refuse to end the tenancy. Section 56(1) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Where the breach is capable of remedy the landlord must first serve a notice on the tenant requiring them to remedy the breach (and give them a reasonable time to do that which cannot be less than 14 days) and prove the tenant has failed to do so.

Did the tenant breach the tenancy agreement or other law?

The tenant accepts that she did not obtain prior written consent from the landlord to keep a dog or dogs at the property.
This means she has breached the tenancy agreement.

Has the tenant failed to remedy the breach?

The landlord gave the tenant a notice of breach dated 17 April 2025 and gave her until 12 May 2025 to remove the two dogs.
The landlord has given a notice of breach.
RD accepts that both dogs are still at her property.
RD has failed to remedy the breach.

Would it be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy?

The landlord wants me to make an order requiring the tenant to remove both dogs by a certain date and that if she does not do so, the tenancy will terminate.
This is called a “conditional termination order”.
I may make this order but only if I am satisfied it would be unfair to refuse to do so; s56(1)(c) RTA.
I have decided not to make a conditional termination order at this stage.
My reasons for this are:- a. RD agrees to rehome the brown dog. b. There is not enough evidence to show that the black and white dog is aggressive in nature. The property manager only went to the house once and with no prior notification before he entered onto the property. c. RD gave oral evidence that she has had the black and white dog for nearly 15 years, since it was a puppy. d. RD (supported by her daughter) gave oral evidence that she did complete a pet consent form and take this to the landlord’s office some months ago but for unknown reasons there is no record of it. I accept this evidence.
It is not unfair to refuse the termination order because the black and white dog has been at the property for many years, the one instance of aggression occurred when someone came onto the property without prior notice, and there has not yet been consideration of a pet request. Actions and second hearing
I spoke to the property manager during the hearing who agrees to progress matters by:- a. The brown dog being removed – by 5.00pm on 13 August 2025. b. The tenant completing a formal pet request form – also by 5.00pm on 13 August 2025. RD said she would pick a form up and would deliver it to the nearest office. The property manager could email one to the new address supplied. c. The landlord will then consider a request to keep the black and white dog. d. The black and white dog should be kept inside the house and in the rear garden once the brown dog leaves. The rear garden is more secure. e. Additional contact details have been provided for the tenant and her daughter so that future visits by the landlord can be notified in advance.
RD must understand that if she does not comply with the orders to remove the brown dog and complete the pet form by 5.00pm 13 August 2025, then the landlord can request that a second hearing be scheduled.
If this happens, then I will again consider the landlord’s application to terminate the tenancy.
The application is decided by the orders I have made unless the landlord requests a second hearing in accordance with order 3. Suppression of names
Most orders of the Tenancy Tribunal are published on the Ministry of Justice website. This is because the Tribunal is a public forum.
The Tribunal may suppress names or other details in certain circumstances. See section 95A RTA.
I have decided to suppress the tenant’s name and the tenancy address from the published order. I am satisfied the tenant is now engaging with this process constructively and it is still underway. In addition, the tenant still lives at the address and her privacy outweighs any public interest in her identity.
I do not suppress the landlord’s name as it is the government landlord managing public funds and infrastructure and it is therefore in the public interest that its actions be transparent.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5273906 — 14-day notice

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5273906 — 14-day notice

At a glance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

What does the law say about pets at tenancy properties?

Did the tenant breach the tenancy agreement or other law?

Has the tenant failed to remedy the breach?

Would it be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

What does the law say about pets at tenancy properties?

Did the tenant breach the tenancy agreement or other law?

Has the tenant failed to remedy the breach?

Would it be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions