How much money was awarded in case 5420982?

Costs Incurred To End Fixed-Term Ten…: $672.88 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,735.71 awarded to landlord; Door: $75.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5420982?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5420982?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13693838-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5420982?

Costs Incurred To End Fixed-Term Ten…: $672.88 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,735.71 awarded to landlord; Door: $75.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5420982?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5420982?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13693838-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

Unit/Flat 3, 4 Wynyard Street, Bell Block, New Plymouth Tenancy Tribunal Case 5420982 — Rent arrears

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5420982 about?

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

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5420982 — net $791.59 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 3 December 2026	$1,735.71	Rent arrears to 3 December 2026
Costs incurred to end fixed-term tenancy early	$672.88	Costs incurred to end fixed-term tenancy early
Repairs: Door	$75.00	in value. Considering the size of the damage, which is relatively small, I find $75.00 to be reasonable.
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$791.59
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$791.59

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

Renee Phillips must pay [The landlord/s] $791.59 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,720.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing on 3 June 2026. The tenant did not attend.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

As the applicant, the landlord must prove their claim to the civil law standard of proof, on the balance of probabilities.

How much does the tenant owe in rent arrears?

The tenancy ended on 3 December 2025. The landlord submitted a rent summary, which proves the tenant owes $1,735.71 in rent arrears up to this date. Should the tenant pay the landlord $672.88 for the costs reasonably incurred in ending the fixed-term tenancy early? The law

A landlord who consents to the early termination of a fixed-term tenancy is entitled to recover from the outgoing tenant any expenses reasonably incurred by the landlord in respect of the termination. 1

Where a landlord seeks to recover such expenses, they must first provide the tenant with an itemised account of the expenses. 2 Analysis

This was a fixed-term tenancy that was meant to end on 26 January 2026. The tenant requested to end the tenancy early and the landlord agreed.

The landlord submitted an invoice for $672.88 to cover the costs associated with ending the fixed-term tenancy early such as, advertising the premises and vetting new tenants. The landlord submitted an email sent to the tenant on 4 December 2025, providing them with an itemised account.

The landlord is entitled to recover $672.88 from the tenant for the costs incurred in ending the fixed-term tenancy early. Their claim for compensation is granted for this amount. 1 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 44A(1). 2 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 44A(2). Is the tenant responsible for damage that occurred to the premises during the tenancy? The law

A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. 3

Fair wear and tear has been defined as the deterioration of premises due to both reasonable use and ordinary operation of natural forces, reasonable conduct on the part of the tenant being assumed. The amount of damage is not relevant. 4 Analysis

The landlord submitted photographs of the lounge/bedroom door at the beginning of the tenancy. There are no marks or dents in the mid-upper part of the door. In contrast, photographs taken at the end of the tenancy show a small dent to the middle of the door, towards the mid-upper region. On the balance of probabilities, I find the dent occurred during the tenancy. The damage exceeds fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability.

The landlord has not had the door fixed yet but submitted a quote for $275.00. The damage is small, which leads me to believe the landlord may not proceed with repairs. Considering the size of the damage and the fact the landlord has not actually had the repair work completed yet, I choose to order compensation for an amount most likely equivalent to the diminution in value. Considering the size of the damage, which is relatively small, I find $75.00 to be reasonable.

The landlord’s claim for compensation is granted for $75.00. Filing fee & name suppression

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. For the same reason, I must grant their request for name suppression. L Ryken 3 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B. 4 See discussion in Accessible Properties New Zealand Ltd v McKeefry [2019] NZTT 4114629, 4169403. 03 June 2026

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5420982 — net $791.59 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 3 December 2026	$1,735.71	Rent arrears to 3 December 2026
Costs incurred to end fixed-term tenancy early	$672.88	Costs incurred to end fixed-term tenancy early
Repairs: Door	$75.00	in value. Considering the size of the damage, which is relatively small, I find $75.00 to be reasonable.
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$791.59
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$791.59

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details.
Renee Phillips must pay [The landlord/s] $791.59 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,720.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing on 3 June 2026. The tenant did not attend.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
As the applicant, the landlord must prove their claim to the civil law standard of proof, on the balance of probabilities.

How much does the tenant owe in rent arrears?

The tenancy ended on 3 December 2025. The landlord submitted a rent summary, which proves the tenant owes $1,735.71 in rent arrears up to this date. Should the tenant pay the landlord $672.88 for the costs reasonably incurred in ending the fixed-term tenancy early? The law
A landlord who consents to the early termination of a fixed-term tenancy is entitled to recover from the outgoing tenant any expenses reasonably incurred by the landlord in respect of the termination. 1
Where a landlord seeks to recover such expenses, they must first provide the tenant with an itemised account of the expenses. 2 Analysis
This was a fixed-term tenancy that was meant to end on 26 January 2026. The tenant requested to end the tenancy early and the landlord agreed.
The landlord submitted an invoice for $672.88 to cover the costs associated with ending the fixed-term tenancy early such as, advertising the premises and vetting new tenants. The landlord submitted an email sent to the tenant on 4 December 2025, providing them with an itemised account.
The landlord is entitled to recover $672.88 from the tenant for the costs incurred in ending the fixed-term tenancy early. Their claim for compensation is granted for this amount. 1 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 44A(1). 2 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 44A(2). Is the tenant responsible for damage that occurred to the premises during the tenancy? The law
A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. 3
Fair wear and tear has been defined as the deterioration of premises due to both reasonable use and ordinary operation of natural forces, reasonable conduct on the part of the tenant being assumed. The amount of damage is not relevant. 4 Analysis
The landlord submitted photographs of the lounge/bedroom door at the beginning of the tenancy. There are no marks or dents in the mid-upper part of the door. In contrast, photographs taken at the end of the tenancy show a small dent to the middle of the door, towards the mid-upper region. On the balance of probabilities, I find the dent occurred during the tenancy. The damage exceeds fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability.
The landlord has not had the door fixed yet but submitted a quote for $275.00. The damage is small, which leads me to believe the landlord may not proceed with repairs. Considering the size of the damage and the fact the landlord has not actually had the repair work completed yet, I choose to order compensation for an amount most likely equivalent to the diminution in value. Considering the size of the damage, which is relatively small, I find $75.00 to be reasonable.
The landlord’s claim for compensation is granted for $75.00. Filing fee & name suppression
Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. For the same reason, I must grant their request for name suppression. L Ryken 3 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B. 4 See discussion in Accessible Properties New Zealand Ltd v McKeefry [2019] NZTT 4114629, 4169403. 03 June 2026

Tenancy Tribunal case 5420982 — Rent arrears at Unit/Flat 3, 4 Wynyard Street, Bell Block, New Plymouth

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5420982 — Rent arrears at Unit/Flat 3, 4 Wynyard Street, Bell Block, New Plymouth

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much does the tenant owe in rent arrears?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much does the tenant owe in rent arrears?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions