How much money was awarded in case 5350261?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,320.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5350261?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5350261?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12830860-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5350261?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,320.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5350261?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5350261?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12830860-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5350261 — Rent arrears

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5350261 about?

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

Tenantcheck Insights

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5350261 — net $28.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 24 October 2025	$2,320.00	Rent arrears to 24 October 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$28.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$28.00

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the [Landlord] name and identifying details.

Rhea Denenga and Emmitt Wickens must pay [The landlord/s] $28.00 immediately, being the filing fee.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,320.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as in the table below. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 24 October 2025$2,320.00 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$2,348.00 Bond$2,320.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$28.00

Reasons

The hearing was conducted by video conference.

[The property manager/s], the property manager, attended the hearing by teleconference.

Both tenants attended the hearing by teleconference.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing. Landlord’s Position

The tenancy was a fixed-term tenancy from 8 March 2025 to 8 March 2026.

The tenants vacated the property on or about 19 September 2025. Because this was a break of a fixed-term tenancy, the landlord was required to mitigate the loss by re-letting the property under section 49 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

[The property manager/s] said that the landlord did so, and the new tenants took possession on 24 October 2025. [The property manager/s] confirmed that the tenants had already paid the break lease fee, and that the total amount sought in rent arrears was $2,320, representing rent owed up to the date the new tenants moved in, 24 October 2025. Tenants’ Position

Ms. Denega and Mr. Wickens disputed owing rent beyond mid-September. They said they were informed in writing by a colleague of [The property manager/s] that once new tenants were found, they would no longer be liable for rent. They referred to an email stating that the property would be re-listed immediately so that “there may not be any lapses between tenancies and you won’t have to pay for the rent.”

The tenants said they received a message on 18 September 2025 confirming that new tenants had been found, and on that basis, they believed their rent liability ended at that point. They maintained that they paid rent up to that date and therefore did not owe any further rent. They also noted that their need to move out early arose from issues with the building, which they said were not their fault. Discussion

[The property manager/s] acknowledged that a message had been sent to the tenants advising that a new tenant had been found but said this did not mean they were immediately released from their rent obligations. He explained that the replacement tenants were not able to move in until 24 October 2025, after giving notice to their previous property manager, and that rent remained payable until that date.

Ms Denega read the contents of the email into the record, which stated: “We may be able to get the property listed immediately and start looking for a tenant to move in asap. This way there may not be any lapses between tenancies and you won’t have to pay for the rent.”

In the email, the final words “you won’t have to pay for the rent” could easily be the tenants’ focus. However, there is a difference between finding a tenant and the new tenancy actually beginning.

In my view, even if the tenants misunderstood the meaning of those words, it did not amount to confirmation that their liability for rent had ended.

Accordingly, the tenants were liable for rent until the new tenancy began.

The tenants tried to explain why they needed to vacate the property. I told them that if they wanted to raise issues about the property’s condition or any compensation claim, they would have to file a separate application with the Tribunal. Conclusion

The tenants are liable for rent until the new tenants commence the new tenancy. Filing fee

Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the application, I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression

Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded in the proceedings, I must grant name suppression.

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5350261 — net $28.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 24 October 2025	$2,320.00	Rent arrears to 24 October 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$28.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$28.00

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the [Landlord] name and identifying details.

Rhea Denenga and Emmitt Wickens must pay [The landlord/s] $28.00 immediately, being the filing fee.

Reasons

The hearing was conducted by video conference.

[The property manager/s], the property manager, attended the hearing by teleconference.

Both tenants attended the hearing by teleconference.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing. Landlord’s Position

The tenancy was a fixed-term tenancy from 8 March 2025 to 8 March 2026.

In my view, even if the tenants misunderstood the meaning of those words, it did not amount to confirmation that their liability for rent had ended.

Accordingly, the tenants were liable for rent until the new tenancy began.

The tenants are liable for rent until the new tenants commence the new tenancy. Filing fee

Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the application, I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression

Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded in the proceedings, I must grant name suppression.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5350261 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5350261 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions