Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5385444 — Rent arrears at Unit/Flat 3, 37B Hoteo Avenue, Papatoetoe, Auckland 2025
Decided 20 March 2026 · Published 20 March 2026 · Application 5385444
- Rent arrears
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Auckland
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
K Koller
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $2,398.75
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $2,398.75
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water rates arrears by previous order dated 10 March 2025 | $234.35 | Water rates arrears by previous order dated 10 March 2025 | |
| Rent arrears to 16 April 2025 | $2,085.73 | Rent arrears to 16 April 2025 | |
| Water rates: 28 February - 28 March 2025 | $50.67 | Water rates: 28 February - 28 March 2025 | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $2,398.75 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $2,398.75 |
Claims and awards for application 5385444 — net $2,398.75 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Water rates arrears by previous order dated 10 March 2025
- Amount
- $234.35
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Water rates arrears by previous order dated 10 March 2025
Rent arrears to 16 April 2025
- Amount
- $2,085.73
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 16 April 2025
Water rates: 28 February - 28 March 2025
- Amount
- $50.67
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Water rates: 28 February - 28 March 2025
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $2,398.75
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $2,398.75
Dismissed claims
- Disposing Of Rubbish And Furniture — The landlord does not have any supporting evidence, such as photos taken on 16 April 2025, to prove the claim was needed and the amount claimed reasonable.
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Sari Otene and Leon Tau-nga-Huru must pay Dhiru Dayal Bhana and Vanila Bhana $2,398.75 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- This order incorporates the Tribunal order made on 10 March 2025 under application 5138671.
- All other claims are dismissed.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing. Mr Bhana was supported by a representative from the Onehunga CAB.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
- The bond was refunded to the Barfoot and Thompson after a previous Tribunal order made in March last year.
How much is owed?
- Mr Bhana said the tenancy did not end on 14 March 2025 as ordered by the Tribunal. He said the tenants kept returning to the premises and he was advised the tenancy ended on 16 April 2025. He provided a rent summary provided by Barfoot and Thompson showing the amount owing to 16 April 2025. I have not heard any evidence from the tenants. I am persuaded the tenancy ended on 16 April 2025.
- The last water rates bill for the tenancy was invoiced after the Tribunal order dated 10 March 2025. It seems most likely to me the tenants owe water rates from 28 February to 28 March 2025.
- The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The previous order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes.
- The claim for disposing of rubbish and furniture is dismissed. The landlord does not have any supporting evidence, such as photos taken on 16 April 2025, to prove the claim was needed and the amount claimed reasonable.
- The filing fee is reimbursed because the landlord is the most successful party.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5385444?
The tribunal order states: Sari Otene and Leon Tau-nga-Huru must pay Dhiru Dayal Bhana and Vanila
How much money was awarded in case 5385444?
Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,085.73 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $234.35 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $50.67 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5385444?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5385444?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13322974-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.