What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5283562 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 5283562?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $6,640.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5283562?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5283562?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12486732-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5283562 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 5283562?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $6,640.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5283562?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5283562?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12486732-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5283562 — Rent arrears

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5283562 — net $4,067.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to Monday 06 October 2025	$6,640.00	Rent arrears to Monday 06 October 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$4,067.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,067.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant’s name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] owes Shelter Realty Limited $6,667.00 (being rent arrears to 06 October 2025 and reimbursement of the filing fee “the debt”).
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,600.00 (5433246-003) to Shelter Realty Limited immediately. This will reduce the debt to $4,067.00.
[The tenant/s] must pay rent and the balance of the debt of $4,067.00 as follows: a. The tenant must make weekly payments of $0.00, being $0.00 for rent and $0.00 toward the debt commencing Tuesday 07 October 2025. b. These weekly payments of $1,150.00 are to continue every Tuesday until the debt is repaid in full.
Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
If the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates: a. The tenancy at [Tenancy address suppressed] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises. b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
If the tenant fails to pay the filing fee within 2 working days of the due date, the filing fee will be payable immediately.

Reasons

Mr Zhao appeared for the tenant. The tenant also appeared. The hearing was scheduled as a video hearing however both appeared by telephone.
The tenancy commenced on 27 August 2024 and was for a fixed term ending 09 January 2025, whereafter it became periodic. On 10 June 2025, the landlord filed a claim for termination for rent arrears of at least 21 days. The landlord also sought outstanding water rates to 07 August 2025.
The tenant has raised concerns that a leak at the property may have affected the water rates. Mr Zhao confirmed that he was aware of this but had yet to make enquiries with the water provider. On that basis, he suggested that the claim be withdrawn from the application but noted that it could be brought again. I agree this is prudent. The claim is therefore removed from this application but may be brought again.
The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Under section 55(1)(a) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (Act), the Tribunal must terminate the tenancy if the rent is at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed.
The rent summary provided shows that the rent was at least 21 days in arrears at the date of filing, and as of today’s date the rent arrears are over 8 weeks.
Section 55(1A) of the Act provides that the Tribunal may, instead of making a final order under 55(1)(a), issue a conditional termination order if it is satisfied the tenant will repay the arrears within a specified period and that a similar breach is unlikely to occur again.
The tenants are a young couple with two children aged 7 years and 11 months. The tenant stated that they have just returned to full time work as a health care assistant with a local hospital following maternity leave. They state that the other tenant works part time in a factory. While on maternity leave, they had to rely on one income and minimal assistance from WINZ. Now they have returned to work fulltime, they are confident the family can meet the rent and clear the arrears.
While Mr Zhao expressed some sympathy for the tenants’ position, he stated that the landlord does not support a conditional termination order. Instead, the landlord suggested the bond be released immediately and that the tenant be given 5 days to clear the balance of the arrears.
By a narrow margin, the tenant has persuaded me that they will pay the debt within the period specified in the order and that it is unlikely they will commit any further relevant breach. I am therefore ordering the bond be paid to the landlord immediately and that a conditional termination order be made.
The conditional termination order will lapse if it is fully complied with. If the tenant breaches the order, the possession order may be enforced for 90 days from the first breach. See section 64(4)(b) of the Act.
As the landlord has been substantially successful, I order reimbursement of the filing fee.
Under section 95A of the Act, the Tribunal must, unless there are reasons not to, order suppression of the name and details of any party who has been wholly or substantially successful. Although entitled to name suppression, the landlord does not seek it. Section 95A (4) provides the Tribunal with discretion to suppress the name and details of a party who has not been wholly or substantially successful. Having considered the tenant’s personal circumstances and noting that they have avoided immediate termination, I am satisfied that there are grounds to exercise that discretion, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant’s name.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5283562 — net $4,067.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to Monday 06 October 2025	$6,640.00	Rent arrears to Monday 06 October 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$4,067.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,067.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant’s name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] owes Shelter Realty Limited $6,667.00 (being rent arrears to 06 October 2025 and reimbursement of the filing fee “the debt”).
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,600.00 (5433246-003) to Shelter Realty Limited immediately. This will reduce the debt to $4,067.00.
[The tenant/s] must pay rent and the balance of the debt of $4,067.00 as follows: a. The tenant must make weekly payments of $0.00, being $0.00 for rent and $0.00 toward the debt commencing Tuesday 07 October 2025. b. These weekly payments of $1,150.00 are to continue every Tuesday until the debt is repaid in full.
Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
If the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates: a. The tenancy at [Tenancy address suppressed] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises. b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
If the tenant fails to pay the filing fee within 2 working days of the due date, the filing fee will be payable immediately.

Reasons

Mr Zhao appeared for the tenant. The tenant also appeared. The hearing was scheduled as a video hearing however both appeared by telephone.
The tenancy commenced on 27 August 2024 and was for a fixed term ending 09 January 2025, whereafter it became periodic. On 10 June 2025, the landlord filed a claim for termination for rent arrears of at least 21 days. The landlord also sought outstanding water rates to 07 August 2025.
The tenant has raised concerns that a leak at the property may have affected the water rates. Mr Zhao confirmed that he was aware of this but had yet to make enquiries with the water provider. On that basis, he suggested that the claim be withdrawn from the application but noted that it could be brought again. I agree this is prudent. The claim is therefore removed from this application but may be brought again.
The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Under section 55(1)(a) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (Act), the Tribunal must terminate the tenancy if the rent is at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed.
The rent summary provided shows that the rent was at least 21 days in arrears at the date of filing, and as of today’s date the rent arrears are over 8 weeks.
Section 55(1A) of the Act provides that the Tribunal may, instead of making a final order under 55(1)(a), issue a conditional termination order if it is satisfied the tenant will repay the arrears within a specified period and that a similar breach is unlikely to occur again.
The tenants are a young couple with two children aged 7 years and 11 months. The tenant stated that they have just returned to full time work as a health care assistant with a local hospital following maternity leave. They state that the other tenant works part time in a factory. While on maternity leave, they had to rely on one income and minimal assistance from WINZ. Now they have returned to work fulltime, they are confident the family can meet the rent and clear the arrears.
While Mr Zhao expressed some sympathy for the tenants’ position, he stated that the landlord does not support a conditional termination order. Instead, the landlord suggested the bond be released immediately and that the tenant be given 5 days to clear the balance of the arrears.
By a narrow margin, the tenant has persuaded me that they will pay the debt within the period specified in the order and that it is unlikely they will commit any further relevant breach. I am therefore ordering the bond be paid to the landlord immediately and that a conditional termination order be made.
The conditional termination order will lapse if it is fully complied with. If the tenant breaches the order, the possession order may be enforced for 90 days from the first breach. See section 64(4)(b) of the Act.
As the landlord has been substantially successful, I order reimbursement of the filing fee.
Under section 95A of the Act, the Tribunal must, unless there are reasons not to, order suppression of the name and details of any party who has been wholly or substantially successful. Although entitled to name suppression, the landlord does not seek it. Section 95A (4) provides the Tribunal with discretion to suppress the name and details of a party who has not been wholly or substantially successful. Having considered the tenant’s personal circumstances and noting that they have avoided immediate termination, I am satisfied that there are grounds to exercise that discretion, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant’s name.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5283562 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5283562 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions